Change is not easy. I’m reminded of it in my work with clients and in my own life on a daily basis. Deciding that one wants to change in a certain way requires shifts in mindset on several different levels. Often the first step is deciding if you even want to change and is it worth the price to change. We question and wrestle with what we currently are and what we want to be.
- Do I want to really examine my life?
- What will happen if I rock the boat?
- Things are ok, or are as good as they’re going to get
- I’m afraid of the unknown
All very valid thoughts and concerns without a doubt! I’m thinking of a long (like 4 hour) conversation that I had with my mentor and close friend last night as she pushed, poked, and prodded me to make some changes that I honestly hadn’t realized I was resisting. Ahhh, the remarkable power of a good coach:-)
It is a challenge and sometimes a struggle to make significant changes in your life. There are lots of factors that you may not even be aware of on a conscious level: are you being supported in the changes you want to make; are your beliefs getting in your way; are you fighting your comfort zone in order to make changes?
Often when we want to change something, it requires looking at certain traits or characteristics that we don’t want to recognize or acknowledge. Know that it takes a lot of courage to want to have more personal choice and control in your life…and often times you may feel out of control!
I think for many people they think that change means that what they are doing now is not good enough, or they themselves are not good enough. I have found for many people that if you can shift your mindset to one of growth rather than that you must change something, it creates more of a climate of receptiveness rather than resistance.
What you must accept is that in order to grow, you must be willing to let go of some old ways of thinking and acting so new patterns and thoughts can emerge. Some questions to ask yourself are:
- What do I like about my life and myself right now?
- What areas would I like to change?
- What do I want for myself and the people I come in contact with?
- How has my thinking influenced the choices I have made up to this point?
- What would I like to do differently?
- What are the consequences if I do or do not change?
- What are the benefits?
Those are some heavy duty questions to think about!! Remember that this is about fulfilling your potential, your purpose and your passion! Get excited thinking about how change can make an incredible difference in your life! Think about the times when you do experience change successfully!
Remember that a coach/mentor can help you get to where you want to go so much faster! I’m incredibly grateful to my coach who pushes me, makes me stretch out of my comfort zone because she can see the potential that I sometimes cannot (or will not)…and that is an incredibly powerful thing!
Here’s a final thought to think about: we really are all in this together; no one person has all the answers and there is no “one size fits all” for personal development. There are certain “ingredients”, but they can be tailored and tweaked to create the perfect recipe of you!
What are your thoughts? Please share:-)
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