It starts with a vague feeling of dissatisfaction or discomfort. The feeling that something is not right somewhere. Sort of like having a toothache and your tongue keeps poking at it. And then full on pain happens. The signal that something needs to change intensifies.
Reinvention
Reinvention happens all the time. Whether it is in your personal or professional life, you will want to reinvent (rebrand), evolve, or do things differently from the way you are doing/being now. It is a natural evolution of life and business.
It can be as a result of a life changing event or experience…or it can be simply waking up one morning and deciding that something needs to change.
It can be big…going from being an accountant to a life coach
It can be small…changing the colors on your website
Reinvention = Change
Whatever it is, it is a shift in perspective for both you and those who see you a certain way (which can be difficult for all parties).
While these big and small leaps may seem perfectly logical to you, to someone else ‘looking in’ it might be a stretch for them to connect the dots and see the same picture you do.
And then there are times when it’s even difficult for you to connect the dots…what do you do then?
Here are five questions to ask yourself when you’re thinking about reinventing whether it’s on a large or small scale.
Why do I want to reinvent?
Everything starts with WHY. WHY gives you clarity, it gives you direction, it gives you a starting point and a destination.
Your WHY drilled down is simply how you want to feel.
Maybe you feel powerless and you want to feel empowered
Maybe you feel overwhelmed and you want to feel more flow
Maybe you feel uninspired and you want to feel spark and sizzle
Maybe your values are different than they were 5 years ago…3 years ago…1 year ago…yesterday
Think of answering your WHY as the compass point that starts you off in right direction
What is going right? What isn’t? (a too-fer question…my gift to you)
In other words…what gives you energy? what drains energy from you?
Most of the time it isn’t necessary to throw the baby out with the bathwater (what a terrible expression!) which can be overwhelming and paralyzing. Looking at what is going well gives you a foundation on which to build upon. And while it’s important to reframe and focus on the positive, it is equally crucial to look at what isn’t serving you anymore.
What strengths/talents/gifts are you taking for granted?
We overlook so many of our talents and gifts. Time and time again I talk with cients and we uncover some strength and I will hear “But no one is going to pay me for that, everyone can do that”. No, no they can’t and they can’t do it like you. You have a secret sauce that is all yours and whatever it is I can guarantee you that you have been downplaying it.
Now is the time to bring it front and center.
Am I willing to step out of my comfort zone? How far? (again the 2 part question)
Facing change big or small is scary, uncomfortable, and challenging. It requires a vulnerability that we would rather not expose ourselves to. It is equal parts thrilling + terrifying.
I ask this question a lot with clients because until it’s out in the air…you don’t know. Until you start actually steppin’ and bumping into resistance + uncertainty…you don’t know. And that’s ok, just know that what you truly desire is usually on the other side of the discomfort.
Approaching stepping out of your comfort zone as an experiment can be one way to manage your energy around the reinvention process.
And progress is progress, whether it’s baby steps or or big giant leaps.
Are you ready to own your power?
You’ll hear many voices when you reinvent. When you start really leaning into the fact that you have more power than you originally thought, the voices will get louder. Outside voices are bad enough, but it’s the inside voices that will send you off course faster than you can imagine. These voices include doubt, preconceived notions, other’s expectations, and imposter syndrome, just to name a few.
Here’s the thing: you can’t stop the voices…you can’t, so stop wasting your precious energy in trying. Better to acknowledge the voices and then unceremoniously boot them out the door. They don’t have the power…you do.
One final question: Are you brave enough to get started?
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