Change can be a hard concept to handle, yet we have to do it throughout our whole lives. There are times that we have to switch jobs. We move homes, cities or states and there is a change in the environment. Relationships change and we have to adapt to our new surroundings. Even if you do your best to stay status quo and avoid change, it will happen to you. It’s part of life.
So what’s the Risk? What’s the big deal? Why is change so hard?
Change can quickly have you spiraling into negative thoughts. It can be scary and can cause anxiety. It’s what creates the unknown. So get confident and competent to approach change with a positive mindset. Once you fully understand change, you have the control to take it on. I’m not saying all of the fears and anxieties simply melt away. They will still be with you, but you will move forward anyway.
Not all change leads to improvement, but all improvement requires change.
Here are 5 steps so you can tackle that change you are facing:
1. Think about your current situation.
Allow yourself time to reflect on your current situation. Think about what it is you would want to be different. What parts are you unhappy with and would like to keep the same? Practices you can use to gain clarity on this step include visualization, journaling and utilizing the 5 why’s strategy (see 5 why’s blog). Once you have a clearer idea of what it is you truly want, it will be easier to begin to develop ways to make necessary changes to achieve that.
2. Set Benchmarks
Formulate your idea of where you want to be. Depending on the situation this may be formalized or a basic idea. If there is a change you are seeking to make to hit a specific target, that is your benchmark number. However, most times our change is to gain a new emotion, to be happier. Your happiness is what you want. As you see others do things, reflect on it for motivation or suggestions of how you can approach the change. You can learn new methods and if you’re competitive it can help keep you going. But always remember that they are not you. Only you can take this journey. So it will not look the same as others.
3. Resources
Pull on available resources to explore the different approaches you can take on the change you are facing. Knowledge is power. You will feel more confident in taking the next steps if you truly understand what it is you are facing. Read books. Use the beautiful world wide web to explore topics. Talk to others with expertise in the area you are dealing with or have also made similar changes themselves.
4. Creative thinking
Brainstorm all of the obstacles you are facing with the desired change and begin to create solutions. Give yourself time for this step. Ideally time that is quiet enough so you can hear your thoughts. This is a great phase for journaling and meditation. Allow yourself to dream big and set exciting goals that can be achieved from this change, and your mind will figure out the way to make the it happen.
5. Take action.
You’ve done the research, you’ve brainstorm solutions to obstacles you may face and you’ve clearly identified what change needs to occur. All that is left is to take the first step. Utilize a strategy if you are really stuck on this step such as PDCA.
“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
It starts with the first step. You may not know all of the steps that are needed to follow, but you can figure it out as you go. Feel confident in the fact that you have already prepared yourself to the best of your ability for this and trust yourself to move.
After you have made the changes, give yourself a moment to celebrate it. Be proud of yourself. Regardless of how that change turned out, you did it. You grew from the experience. Reflect on what you have been able to accomplish during this transition. Utilize this experience in the future and believe in yourself fully when the next change comes upon you.