Walking in Circles

By Nancy Grant

I’m fortunate to live a few miles from the city center of Portland, OR, and still be surrounded by nature’s beauty and wildlife. I have an abundance of trails to hike and my exercise routine often takes me on an asphalt path that circles a neighborhood pond. I’m inspired by nature’s sights and sounds, and one day was surprised to find a new perspective while walking in circles around the pond.

My routine is to traverse my neighborhood, amble through the woods, and turn right when I reach the asphalt path. As I move step-by-step down the path I cross a small wooden bridge and see a tree that has been downed by a gnawing beaver. I stride past the playground and park benches at the opposite end of the pond and soon reach the spot where the ducks and Canadian geese congregate, sometimes with their fluffy ducklings or goslings in tow. A little further down the path I often catch a glimpse of a blue heron standing majestically in the shallow water. I approach the woods and start all over again. I had traveled in the same direction for almost three years, enjoying the scenery as I walked at a clipped pace. It wasn’t a conscious choice that made me turn in the same direction every single day. I had made an unconscious choice and through consistent action had created a habit.

I don’t know why, but one morning I reached the asphalt path and turned left. Suddenly I gained a whole new perspective. I walked up the incline when previously I had walked down. The statuesque blue heron’s favorite spot was hidden by bushes, so I had no idea if it was there or not. I met the ducks and geese early in my walk instead of close to the end of the first loop. I became aware of a house under construction that had previously been hidden by trees, and next saw a hillside of homes that were always to my back and gone unnoticed. I was seeing the area with new eyes.

Day after day I had created my reality by taking unconscious action each time I walked around the pond. My change in direction made me mindful of the correlations to life. We can also walk in circles, always going the same direction. We follow our routines, hold the same beliefs, and think the same thoughts. We see the same people, read the same material, and hear the same messages. We allow life to unfold in a particular way and create reality from what we allow ourselves to see. We aren’t able to see what’s available to us but instead hang onto our perspective and say “this is real.” Our choices are unconscious, so we aren’t even aware that we can create a different view and view our world with new eyes.

Awareness is always the first step in gaining perspective and creating change. Perhaps I was getting bored with my routine and wanted some variety. Maybe my inner guidance was nudging me to look at my world differently. Whatever the reason, I chose to turn left that day, I moved from a state of unconscious habit and became aware that I had a number of options that would each give me a different perspective. Not only could I go right or left, I could also go one direction, turn around, and go in the reverse direction. That would give me a more complete view of the pond and the surrounding area. I could start my walk from a path that traversed the hills and placed me at a different starting point. I could take a short detour and walk two blocks up the hill. At its pinnacle I could look down and see the entire pond, the woods, the creek that flows into the pond, and see the trees from above instead of from below. I had so many opportunities to change my reality.

I started overlaying my unconscious habit with conscious choices, beginning the next day with my departure from the house. Which path do I want to take to reach the pond? What view do I want today? Do I want to turn left or right? Do I want to reverse my direction part way through the walk? Do I want to take a detour and gain a larger perspective? With awareness and consistent action I have been able to create a new habit.

Where in your life are you unconsciously choosing? Where could you benefit from a new perspective? Where would you like to create a new reality? Is it time to turn right instead of left, to enter from a different point, or to take a detour up the hill? You have so many choices.

Nancy Grant is a certified coach. She offers individual coaching through Nancy Grant Coaching. Visit www.nancygrantcoaching.com for more information.