Mom-Camp!

I’ve always been curious about change, and a bit of a change-craver, if you will. So when I had the opportunity not only to read the just-released Life Changes – Using the Power of Change to Transform Your Life, by Jennifer Lewis-Hall, but also have an in-depth conversation with her, I snapped up the opportunity!

Through my conversation with Jennifer and reading the book, I came away with one very strong message. Surprisingly, it’s not change itself that makes the most impact in our lives – it’s how we deal with the change that really makes the difference.

Jennifer is certainly a student of change. She spent many years being a network journalist, reporting other people’s stories. But when people started asking her to tell her own story, she started navigating the stormy waters of Change. She’s now added motivational speaker, author, and greeting card creator to her list of vocations! See her American Greetings line of cards, entitled Be Open to Grace, at Walmart stores around the country.

Change is funny. Some people, like me, need it to be ever-present in their lives. If I’m not changing, or looking forward to something new and different, life just isn’t exciting to me. On the other hand, many people fear change like the plague, resisting it like a toddler not wanting to eat his peas. Change feels disruptive and scary – like wandering through unknown woods in the black of a moonless night. Regardless of which camp calls you, change is a part – a critical part – of life. Without change, there is no growth. And whether you want it to or not, change does happen.

I asked Jennifer what one thing she wants people to take from her book: don’t fear change – or perhaps more accurately, embrace your fear of change. If that thought itself feels a bit scary, grab a copy of the book. It helps you put change into perspective and gives you tools to push through changes you are facing or will inevitably face. Questions at the end of chapters, along with a journal at the back of the book, help you examine your own life and attitudes to change and help you set yourself up to use change itself as a life transformation too, if that’s your wish.

Are you resistant to, or fearful of, change? Jennifer points out that there’s goodness in the resistance and fear. It’s your signal to push – push long and push hard. She likens it to a race – great things don’t happen when you’re standing still. Only when you push, and push hard, will you win the race. And the harder you push, the more it’s worth it in the long run.

Here’s a particularly powerful passage, in my opinion, from the book:

Writing this book was a milestone for me on my personal life journey. It took place at a time when I was going through tremendous changes. The loss of beloved friends and family and the onset of illness nearly kept me frozen in time. That’s until I realized that all of these things are part of our journey – not just bad moments in time. It’s these events that teach us to value our lives and our loved ones with a depth that we perhaps never could have imagined. The changes that threatened to break me down and eat away at my spirit never succeeded, because each time there was darkness there was also light. Every painful day was followed by a day of joy.

What’s the secret to seeing the light and the joy, even among pain and unwanted change? Jennifer encourages us to really get to know ourselves at times like this. Knowing who you are can be a rudder in stormy waters, and help you navigate through change. In doing this, we embrace the change, look it in the eye, and feel like we’re in control. When we know who we are, and feel some control over the change, then we can experience the excitement and joy that can come with change.

The beauty in this book comes when you take your time with it, and have a conversation with it, if you will. Consider its wisdom thoughtfully and carefully. Use the journal it offers. Get to know yourself in the process. You’ll be setting yourself up to handle the next big change that will inevitably come into your life.

"the journey" is the mantra of network journalist, life coach, motivational speaker and author Jennifer Lewis-Hall. It's how she lives and has built an exceptional career in network television while being a dedicated wife, a mother of two sons and a friend to many. Jennifer is the creator and founder of Be Open To Grace™ - a new beautifully designed inspirational card line sold by American Greetings in Wal-Mart stores

For more info on Mom-Camp please click here.