Relocation Therapy: The Key to Moving on and Creating Your Self Anew?

Between dealing with jobs, congestion and the hassles that come with our lives, people sometimes want to get away and move somewhere else. For those who have experienced an existential crisis, relationship loss or a tragedy, however, this desire can become overwhelming. In recent years, psychologists have begun researching the psychological and neurological effects of relocating, and the findings show that it can be a viable form of therapy for some people in certain situations. Here are a few facts about relocation therapy and why it can be so effective.

Is relocation therapy different than moving?

In terms of actions, there is no effective physical difference between relocation therapy and moving to a new area. However, the purpose of relocation therapy is to reset the mind and move on from a loss in the family, a midlife crisis, relationship transformation or another life event that is difficult to process without significantly changing physical and/or energetic surroundings. Some researchers believe that people who move often do so less for practical reasons and more for the experience of starting afresh from a painful experience. Though the pain that you once felt will never be completely eliminated, this therapy will allow for you to not be constantly reminded of the sorrows of your past. Conversely, many people may move as part of a mind-full intention to create them self anew when they have reached a transition point in their life where relationships or jobs are transforming and there is an inner restlessness or calling to create something very different in their lives.

Why can relocation therapy be so effective?

There are two main theories as to why relocation therapy works so well for some people. First, some believe that relocating is a way of avoiding patterns that may have caused stress and anxiety in the past. According to this theory, moving is simply a way to develop new habits and avoid falling into old patterns of thought. This can work well for people who are ready to look within and become aware of their own internal chatter or belief patterns of thought that assisted them with creating their old life circumstances. Once you become aware of how you self-sabotaged by past choices fueled by old thought patterns, you can mindfully transform your thoughts and emotions so that you can begin to create new beliefs to create a new environment, new life patterns, new living circumstances and new relationships.

You can either unwittingly create powerfully in your life in negative ways (self-sabotage) or you can mindfully create powerfully in wondrously abundant ways by your thought patterns (beliefs), emotions and choices. This has been discussed before in books and teachings by Dr.’s Latz and Ross as ‘The Bow and Arrow Theory of Creation’ which goes as follows:  The bow represents your emotional intention (i.e., anger, resentment, fear, love, compassion). The strength of the emotional intention determines how powerfully you draw back your bow to send your thoughts out into the world to manifest. For instance, if there is not much power behind the emotion, then the arrow will scarcely fly.  If, on the other hand, there is great power behind the emotion (such as rage or fear), then the arrow will fly quickly and can create rapidly and profoundly in your life.  The arrow represents your thought, which directs the intention.  The thought will direct how the intention (or great emotion) will actually manifest in your life.  It is important to note that you cannot create for anyone else.  You can only draw back your own bow to create in your own life.  If you draw your bow back with the intention of harming others, you will only draw similar negative energy into your own life. When you understand the full magnitude of the power of your own creation and take responsibility for challenging old thought patterns, you can truly begin to create new environments and living situations that are more peaceful and joy-filled and that resonate more with your life’s passion and purpose. If you do not understand the powerful ways in which you create situations and attract people into your life that allow drama and chaos, then you are likely to just recreate similar scenarios over time again.

Others believe that relocation therapy is effective due to neurological reasons; humans evolved as nomads, and our ancestors would constantly move to new areas and this may somehow be encoded into us and into our neural pathways in our brain. According to this theory, relocation therapy taps into this latent generational pattern or desire to pack up and move. For this reason, a new scene provides us with a new outlook on our lives altogether. It allows us to start afresh and rediscover who we are altogether.

Should I consider relocation therapy?

The question of whether relocation therapy is right for a particular person cannot be answered easily. One might ask: “Am I wanting to relocate to distract from painful situations or chaos I have created or allowed in my life?” “Am I wanting to relocate to leave behind memories of loved ones I have lost?” “Am I wanting to relocate so that I can combine two households (in the case of a new marriage that blends two families) into a new shared household with its own new energetic space?” Those who have suffered a significant loss and who cannot seem to get past their grief may benefit from getting away from constant reminders of their lost loved one. For them, relocation therapy might be the best way to move forward. Those who are suffering from other mental or emotional difficulties may want to consider if moving to a new area could provide additional benefits of being nearer or further from either helpful or chaotic family/friends; or if such a move would not be helpful because the issue of discord is within one’s own internal chatter and would be moving to the new location as well unless it is properly dealt with. The combined effect of moving to a better area in terms of allowing better educational, social or occupational opportunities, and reaping the benefits of relocation therapy may make it the right choice for them.

For instance, moving into an area such as NY real estate, would allow you to focus on a new environment and society. The “city that never sleeps” would provide you with both constant distraction and never-ending social and cultural activities to create energetic opportunities that are different from whatever situation you were in before.

Wishing you Bright Beginnings as you create anew in your life!

Ken Torrino with “The Shift Doctors” (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.)

***For more information on Ken Torrino, web relations for Elliman, brokers for New York City real estate.

**The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.) are available for keynote talks, classes, events or for seminars on personal transformation, relocation, team-building, motivation, anger management, intuitive development, or collaboration for private groups, conferences, corporations or corporate events. Contact them at info@shiftyourlife.com or find out more about them at www.shiftyourlife.com