4 Ways Moving Gave Me A New Lease On Life

Moving to Los Angeles gave me permission to become the type of person I really wanted to be.

As a jaded New Yorker of 7 years, listing the many reasons why I decided to move away was a task I could do in my sleep: The sinking feeling of leaving an unkind audition room. The pungent smell of the subway in August. The view from my apartment window. Here are 4 ways that moving gave me a new lease on life:

Clearing off the Shelves

The actual act of packing was quite therapeutic. I had moved to New York City to become an actress, but after several years acting in theater and film, I realized that my true desires no longer aligned with a life in the entertainment industry.

Once I made that decision, I threw all of my old plays and acting books on a shelf and never looked at them again. When it came time to pack up my belongings for the move, I was forced to wipe the dust off of these books and face reality. It was difficult. I like felt looking at these old books was like looking at your best friend from middle school; someone you once loved dearly, but now have grown so far apart from that you feel like you have no idea who they are anymore.

I ultimately decided to donate the books, as I knew that this chapter in my life had officially come to a close. In the end, I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders (and my moving bill appreciated it too!)

What can you cleanse and let go of during your move?

Living by New Rules

Moving across the county finally gave me the opportunity to define a new set of rules for myself and my happiness. One of the new rules that I implemented was to capitalize on the clean slate of moving to a new town, and only nurture new friendships that fueled me.

After so many years living in New York City with old classmates, ex-boyfriends, crazy former bosses and old acquaintances, it felt difficult to surround myself with positive people. Moving to Los Angeles, I vowed that I would curate my group of friends, so that I never felt that I had to accept an invitation out of guilt or obligation, like I had done so many times in New York. Sure, I might have less friends now, but I'm happier and I feel less drained in social situations.

What new rules are you looking to implement once you move?

I Believe in Being in the Right Place at the Right Time

It was no accident that I moved to Los Angeles the same year that I was diagnosed with candida overgrowth, a yeast and gut imbalance. I believe that things happen for a reason, and New York City could not provide me with the type of medical care that I personally needed to thrive.

Eerie coincidences begin to happen as I planned my move: the naturopath that wrote the book I had been reading about candida was based in Los Angeles, one of the few studies conducted on resistant candida glabrata strains was conducted by a physician in Santa Monica (my now doctor!), and LA is known for having many more vegan and gluten-free restaurant choices than most cities in the United States.

All these signs further proved to me that this was a move that needed to be made. I'm able to be healthy here, and so I know it was the right choice for me.

What signs and coincidences tell you that your new home is right for you?

Creating Space for the Life that You Want

If you want something to happen in your life, you have to create space for it. Could you imagine planning a Caribbean vacation, but not taking time off from work to go and enjoy it? It wouldn't happen! And without creating space, your dreams won’t happen.

I knew that New York City wasn't the type of environment where I could run a successful business. I needed sunshine and open air to be happy, and the stressful pace of The Big Apple wasn’t the type of environment where I felt inspired and motivated. If I wanted to run a successful business, I needed to create space for it, which meant that I would have to move to a different location. And let me tell you, it’s made all the difference; I feel more creative than I have in years!

How will your new home create space for your goals and dreams?

The act of physically moving locations is more than just change of home address - it's a change of heart. It's a clean slate, an opportunity to shift your mindset for the better. In which ways will your move give you a new lease on life? Feel free to share in the comments below.

Are you moving soon? (Start planning your adventure with our free moving planning journal!)


BY BRITTANY RITCHER

Brittany Ritcher is a blogger and Qualitative Researcher with a focus on Goal-Setting and Achievement. She now lives in Los Angeles, CA with her fiance.

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