By Victoria Joanna  BBA, CNP, RNCP http://www.victoriajoanna.com/

Are you waiting for a new job, a new relationship, a new group of like-minded friends, a mentor, or maybe just new “stuff”…furniture, clothes or a great pair of shoes?

Sometimes in the process of wanting, visualizing, planning and doing, we can forget one very important detail – making space for something new to come into our lives. 

Consider what happens in nature.  Since as humans we are part of nature, it’s reasonable to assume we follow similar universal laws.   Centuries ago, it was stated that “Nature abhors a vacuum.”  What this means is that in nature, when a space is created, it has to eventually be filled.   For example, when you make a hole in the sand, eventually the tide washes over it and fills it back up.  It doesn’t stay hollow for long.

A less scientific way to think about it, is to imagine that our busy and over-crowded lives are like hands that are full.  We hold out our hands waiting to receive what we want, but they are too full to accept anything new.

So how can we apply this to our life?  If our lives and schedules are packed, our closets full and our minds cluttered there is literally no “space” for anything new.  In order to receive whatever thing, relationship or opportunity we desire, we must first decide what we are willing to put down, so that our hands are open to receive. 

The act of creating space signals that we are ready for change.  The reason it is often so difficult is that space can be equated with emptiness; emptiness equals fear, loneliness and uncertainty.  Some of our biggest fears are that of being alone, of failing and of making mistakes.   Making space then, is not only a physical or mental clearing, but also a statement of faith and hope.

If you’re not quite certain how to do this, below are some common examples of goals and the things you might consider doing to create space for them in your life:

For a new wardrobe:  clean out your closets and donate all of the clothes, shoes, and purses you no longer wear. More tips here: http://prettysavvy.ca/the-spirit-of-simplicity/

For a new relationship:  if you’re in a relationship, first you must admit it’s not working and decide whether you are ready to move on.  Only you can know if you are holding on because you think it can be saved, or because you’re afraid to be alone.  If you’re not in a relationship, make a space for it in your mind and your heart – don’t fill every waking moment with “busy work”, take time to connect with your vision.  If you’re closed, defensive, aloof or always preoccupied, you’re blocking it from coming to you.

For a new circle of friends:  if you’ve outgrown you’re friendships and want to be around more like-minded people who have the same goals and interests as you do, you must first make space for those relationships to occur.  Decide which friendships no long serve you and reduce the amount of time you spend with toxic people.  It may feel a little lonely at first, but that is temporary.  When you create the space, new friendships will flow into your life.

For a new career or job:  reduce the amount of time that your current job occupies in your life, both mentally and physically.  Work a little less overtime on evenings and weekends and replace that time visualizing, researching and contemplating your ideal job.   What you focus on expands, so if you spend 100% of your time living and breathing your current job, it’s unlikely that you will be able to create the space for a new opportunity to enter into your life. 

For a healthy body:  evaluate where you can create space in your schedule – reduce the number of nights you stay late at the office, replace one night of going out drinking and eating, eliminate one night of TV watching, remove junk foods from your kitchen.  Taking these steps first creates the space for healthy habits…otherwise you’re just trying to fit them in to a lifestyle already crammed with errands, obligations…and potato chips.

Whatever it is that you are waiting for to come into your life, just remember the analogy of the beach.  Dig the whole first, then wait for the wave to come in with fresh new sand.  Have faith in knowing that it won’t be empty for long.