| Like fall leaves whose deep green begins to | | | | Change can more often be likened to a marathon, |
| display spectacular kaleidoscopes of color, our | | | | than a quick sprint. Mike came to me wanting to |
| lives are constantly in the process of change. | | | | make a career shift. He spent a few months |
| Sometimes we plan change, other times our lives | | | | researching options, while also making a physical |
| are unexpectedly on a new course. Where is | | | | and mental shift for the change that was about |
| change in your life? Have you been thrown a | | | | occur. After he told his boss he was leaving, part |
| curve ball? Do you want a change? Maybe you | | | | of him wanted to change his mind. This is natural. |
| are about to enter a new phase of your life? A | | | | He decided to stay with it and stick to his plan. A |
| new job? A new direction? A new relationship? | | | | year after beginning this process, Mike made the |
| Whatever the change is, transformations bring | | | | change he always dreamed about! Did he think |
| surprise, excitement, opportunity, and challenge to | | | | about quitting several times? Of course. Change is |
| our lives. Wherever change is present in your life, | | | | hard! But he was prepared for the long journey! |
| these steps will help handle your fears and finish | | | | 4) Change Your Belief System |
| your course! | | | | Our own beliefs are one of the biggest hurdles |
| 1) What Do You Want? | | | | between us and success. How many times have |
| Before you embark on this metamorphosis, you | | | | you thought to yourself? I'm not good enough. I |
| need to know which destination you really want. | | | | can't make money. I'm too afraid. I don't think I |
| Too often we wander aimlessly because we | | | | can do it, etc.... These self beliefs hinder our |
| haven't figured out where we want to go. How | | | | progress. Now, write down your ultimate goal for |
| could you plan a vacation to Hawaii if you didn't | | | | yourself. Then, ask, do I believe I can do this? Do |
| know you wanted to go there? Close your eyes | | | | I have the resources to do it? Am I capable of |
| for a minute and think about what you want. | | | | doing it? What beliefs are limiting me from what I |
| Where do you want to end up? Shut out the | | | | want to do? What is telling me I can do this? Now |
| unwanted thoughts, the advice from others, and | | | | that you know where you need to change your |
| just listen to your heart. What is it telling you? | | | | beliefs, you may want to elicit some support to |
| Take two minutes and write down anything that | | | | help you. |
| comes to mind. Hopefully you have an answer | | | | 5) Find Tools to Help You |
| now, but if not, that's ok. Sometimes it can take | | | | Changing our lives can be a long and difficult |
| longer to really figure out what it is we want. | | | | voyage made easier by finding tools to assist you. |
| 2) Make Your Plan Real | | | | Here are a few ideas. Start a circle of support |
| Now that you know what you want, see it, write | | | | with group members who also want to make |
| about it, and talk about it in every sense of the | | | | similar changes in their life. Find a good book, like |
| word! Visualize your actions, your environment, | | | | Changing for Good, by James Prochaska. Or, you |
| and your future. Surround yourself with models | | | | may discover using a coach is very helpful. |
| for success through pictures and friends. Then, | | | | Now is the time to push fears aside, tell your |
| write down for yourself exactly what it is that | | | | limiting beliefs to quiet down, and begin focusing |
| you want to accomplish. Finally, tell supportive | | | | on your vision of your dream! By using these |
| individuals about your plans. | | | | steps, your transformation will be one filled with |
| 3) Prepare For a Journey | | | | vibrant colors and opportunity. |