Above my front door is a black and white piece of art with the word ‘Imagine’ big and bold in the center. Behind the word is a plant that looks like the type of dandelion I used to wish on as I blew white fluff into a passing breeze. Every time I walk out my door, I look up and do a quick self-check to make sure I’m imagining how my day might go without any preconceived (read: negative) assumptions.

Transition is everywhere right now and it feels a bit unsettling, doesn’t it? I’ve received a few requests lately for some sturdy resources on creating a fulfilling, successful shift. I’m going to assume here that anyone who continues reading understands that change is healthy and opens an invitation to become a creator instead of a victim. Agreed? Perfect! Sit back, grab some coffee and get comfortable, this one’s a doozy!

Understand Change

In the book Who Moved My Cheese, Spencer Johnson explains six steps we experience as we face change. I think they’re important to remember so you are prepared for what you will feel next and be ready for the emotional highs and lows along the way.

1. Recognition and Reaction: Shift happens. Ever seen that bumper sticker? I love it. Whether you’ve been forced into change (i.e. losing your job) or you’ve chosen it (i.e. a great idea started forming about a month ago), this is the stage in which you process the fact that it’s actually happening. You might feel excitement, fear, anger or all of the above here. Don’t panic, you still have five steps to go!
2. Planning: As a society, we subscribe to the mindset that if something is broken, we fix it. That’s why this stage is about inquiry, curiosity and rational thinking. What is your ideal outcome? What steps will it take to get there? What support and talent do you already in your circle and within yourself?
3. Leaving the Old and Familiar: This is perhaps the hardest step. Leaving what you know can be very disconcerting. Especially when what you’re moving into is full of unknown. Here’s the tipping point: if your desire or your need is high enough, you will continue on this path. If your desire or need is shaky, then you will turn back to what you know. There’s a great quote that illustrates this point: "After you have made your commitment to say no to what no longer serves you, you will probably be invited to demonstrate that you really mean it." – Alan Cohen
4. Initial Excitement: Once you’ve successfully made it past steps one through three, you’ll feel like you’re entering a ten-hour day on two hours of sleep. Meaning, adrenaline will be kicking in and you’ll be raring to make things happen. This stage is really important for moving you out of the old and into the new. With a flurry of new activity, you’ll hardly notice that you are already embracing the transition.
5. Shock of Reality: Once the flurries settle, you’ll find yourself face to face with reality. This isn’t as dramatic as it sounds, but often it feels scary and unknown once again. I can’t stress this enough: that’s okay! It’s recommended that you give it six months before you make any judgments about where you are. Anything new and different takes time to adjust to. Play with this time, learn about others doing the same thing, ask questions and enjoy trying something new.
6. Settling In: Do you feel it? Normal? Acclimated? Settling in is the stage where things feel comfortable, normal and easy. You’ve started creating your own systems, your own knowledgeable opinions and most likely…you’re probably starting to get another new idea. Here we go again!

Acknowledge Your Fear

Understanding and acknowledging the fear you are going through will create an easy place to rest when fear does rear it’s ugly head. Do this by understanding what it is that makes you fearful, and recognize that it’s all man-made. Unless you’re in physical danger, it’s safe to say that you are creating the anxiety you feel through false assumptions or imagined possible outcomes.

Think about skipping rocks. With the first hop, as the rock hits the water, you’re not sure if it will go any farther. This is where your initial fear about indulging in the idea of your transition being better than the average outcome lies. These thoughts feel too big, or too selfish to have any truth in them, right? Ask yourself why…

As the rock skips again, you feel progress, but aren’t sure how much farther the rock will skip. Underneath your breath lie the ‘what ifs.’ Statements such as ‘what if I can’t pay my bills?’ and ‘what if I fail?’ or ‘what if I don’t know enough yet?’ These are temporary blocks that are often drowned out by intuition, or your gut feeling. When you know that a shift is right (or necessary) for you, those ‘what ifs’ become cautionary and the knowledge within you that it’s time for a change will outweigh your fear.

Hop three and beyond are exciting as you see the potential and possibility before you. Fear becomes less dramatic and more about thinking rationally. Suddenly, just being able to come up with the next step/idea/connection limits your fear. Also remember that the endorphins and adrenaline that fear ignites within you are the exact same that excitement does. Sometimes fear = excitement. Each skip holds the fear of sinking – and the excitement that your rock might continue to skim the surface. I mean come on – if a rock can walk on water…

Shift Perspective

Ever heard of TED (The Empowerment Dynamic)? David Emerald blasted the doors of empowerment clear off when he wrote The Power of TED. He gives a simple illustration of two friends walking along the beach. One trips over a rock and the other quickly leans down to help his friend up. Three important characters make up this simple illustration. Allow me to introduce the rock, otherwise known as the perpetrator. Also meet friend one, who falls and becomes the victim of the rock. Meet friend two with the helping hands, otherwise known as the rescuer. How often have you been in this situation? Something bad happens, you fall victim and someone helps you up.

TED is so powerful because it requests that you shift perspective into thinking of the rock as a challenger, friend one as a creator and friend two as a coach. Instead of succumbing to the weight that worry carries when you’re trying some new, try instead to view it as an opportunity to create an empowered outcome where you choose both your path and your destination. If you come face to face with a challenge, your support circle helps you decide what you would like to do to get around it (always allowing you to be the creator).

Imagine

From the role of master creator in your own life, what outcome would be ideal for yourself? Here is a quick exercise to go through whenever you are faced with, or are considering making a big transition in your life:

* What are the disadvantages of status quo?
* What are the advantages of change?
* How can you be optimistic about change?
* What is your intention to change?

As you face a transition, it’s often the disadvantage of the status quo that begins to eat away at you. Often feeling that you can do more and be more, the fear of leaping into the unknown feels less threatening than actually staying where you are. Listen to your intuition. It knows where you should be going, what you are capable of. Trust that the people and the resources will find you and always know that you have an endless supply of ideas and support out there in the world (and within yourself). You are always at choice. How will you create where you go from here? Like the art above my door advises, always imagine the possibilities.

If you’re feeling a bit lost in creating your path forward and have recently been faced with having to make a transition, consider downloading my e-book, ‘Ideal Career.’ It will walk you through some pertinent coaching exercises to get you thinking about what you really want. Click here and enter the coupon code: SHIFT to get the reduced price of only $30.00!

Momentum Coaching’s mission is for each of us to energize the moment we’re in. As owner and professional coach, Katie Mattson energizes her clients to stretch their boundaries, deepen their awareness and indulge in life. She coaches individuals and small groups around topics such as: building confidence, career and life transitions, shifting perspective and stepping into new experiences. To read more about Katie and Momentum Coaching, or sign up for her FREE coaching newsletter, visit http://www.energizeyourmoment.com

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