Tips for Navigating Change
by Betsy Gutting, JD
There is nothing permanent except change.~ Heraclitus
Navigating change can feel like being lost in the wilderness without a guide. It can be both scary and exhilarating. Having a guide trained in supporting and empowering you in the process of change is invaluable. Professional guidance allows you to take charge of your life and move confidently in a positive direction. I offer my assistance here as your guide.
If you are reading this article, you are probably feeling one or more symptoms of a transition coming on. Here are a few: you may feel stuck and without direction in some area of your life. Or, you may have a sense of your direction, but feel unsure of how to get there. Sometimes an outside force, such as the loss of a job or relationship, sweeps in and lands you in a place you never thought you would be.
Having successfully moved through my own career and relationship transitions, I have been there. Despite the uncertainty that accompanies inner and outer change, it also offers an opportunity -- an opportunity to re-think what you want, re-visit your dreams, review your deepest values, and if you choose, to reinvent your life.
Here are 10 tips for navigating change:
Accept that things are different. This sounds obvious, but the simple act of acknowledging that you are in the midst of a change helps you open to a new direction.
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Make space for your thoughts. One way to get in touch with what is happening inside of you is to set aside time to be alone and quiet with your thoughts. I advise my clients to buy a spiral notebook and make a daily practice of “dumping” their thoughts and feelings on the page. Don’t censor, just write what comes. Frustrations, fears, doubts, and exhilarating new ideas may surface. The reward of this process goes beyond clearing your mind and releasing stress. You are making room for inspiration and new possibilities to enter.
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Choose a physical outlet for stress and pent up emotions -- and do it! Exercise is very effective in releasing psychological stress. For anger, a plastic bat and body pillow work wonders.
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Try deep relaxation. Any type of relaxation that puts you in a calm, meditative state can greatly lessen the anxiety that accompanies change. Guided visualization is powerful because it shifts your focus to positive, life-affirming scenarios. Click here for more about Guided Meditation sessions with Betsy.
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Take care of your immediate needs. Order your home environment so that it feels nurturing to you. Mundane tasks like paying bills and grocery shopping are actually grounding activities that will keep you in the present moment.
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Do something you love. Engaging in a passion releases feel-good endorphins much like the effects of exercise. “Stress breaks” will give you a time out from worry about the future. Listen to music, go out with friends, dance, or take a walk in nature.
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Practice extreme self-care. Imagine that you are a 5-year-old who has just entered the new world of kindergarten. Much of your energy is going to navigating your transition. You need extra T.L.C. during this time. Eat well, get plenty of rest, and minimize intake of alcohol and stimulants. Long hot baths can be very nurturing.
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Create an action plan. Knowing where you want to go allows you to begin taking small steps in a new direction. A coach or mentor can be invaluable in helping you make a plan and act on it. Using an in-depth assessment process, I help clients clarify what they really want and provide support and encouragement as they move toward their trajectory.
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Get support from a mentor, friend or coach. Support is absolutely essential to move through transition with ease and grace. You want a partner who can be neutral and 100 % unconditionally supportive of your dreams and goals.
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Be gentle with yourself. Know that some days you will make forward strides and some days you will fall back into old patterns. Forgive yourself for back slides. Each day -- each moment – can be a new beginning.
Betsy Gutting is a career and personal coach based in Seattle, WA. She is passionate about helping lawyers and other professionals find true success and fulfillment in their careers, businesses, relationships and lives. For a complimentary coaching consultation to discuss how Betsy can help you achieve your goals, contact her at betsy@betsygutting.com. By phone, 206.605.2900.