"I know that something has to change.
BUT, the devil I know...."

Most times, we are aware that we need to change,
but we are blocked by fear:

The fear that if we give up what we have, do, or know, the alternative could be worse, more difficult, or harmful.   And so, we decide that the "devil" we know might not be so bad to live with until we have something known, proven, and low-risk to replace it with. This can often result in long-term inertia as we grow more and more fearful of that "devil" we haven't met yet.

One way to break that cycle is to allow yourself to just simply cease the existing behavior you want to change and give yourself some breathing room. Don't think about replacing or filling in the space just yet, relax and enjoy the task of making space.
(Like that cathartic feeling of cleaning out
the basement, garage, or attic)

Pema Chodron, in her book The Places that Scare you, refers to this place as "the in between state where the warrior spends a lot of time growing up". It is the place that she says, 'by not knowing, not hoping to know, and not acting like we know what's happening
we access our inner strength".

It's a place where our skills are called into action, our resolve is put to the test, and our faith becomes more than a theory.

Next time you find yourself even thinking "The devil I know.."
......try one of these endings:

1. Could be 10 times worse than the devil I haven't met yet...
2. Is choking the life out of me .....
3. Has tricked me into thinking this is the best it will ever be...
 

These might just make the 'in between' spaces
less intimidating.
  

Thanks for sharing your second cup with me,  

 Mike
 Hope to see you on the trails.......66/100*
*My 100K Accountability