Managing change in your life

In a previous post, I talked about being in your comfort zone and how easy it is to stay in this area. But the journey of making change is not always easy. When people make major change in their life, whether it is a voluntary or forced change, they go through a range of emotions and thoughts.

Their reactions are often as follows:

1. Denial - "it can't be true" or "I can't believe it"
2. Blaming others - "they shouldn't have done that" or "it is their fault"
3. Blaming themselves - "I should have known" or "it's my fault"
4. Accepting the new situation - "where do I go from here?"
5. Committing to change - "I'm going to do something about this"
6. Creative problem solving - "what am I going to do next?", "what are my options?"
7. Persevering and overcoming obstacles by being persistent - "I can do this!"

Sometimes people go through these stages quickly, but often they get stuck in the early stages of the model, and feel negative and sometimes depressed about a situation.

Even when making a voluntary change, such as changing your career or setting up a new business, it is still easy to find yourself in the areas of negativity. This is especially true in the early stages, such as the first few days or weeks in a new job or the first few months of running a business.

It is important to get to stage 4 as quickly as possible, and to set a plan to move on.

When you are experiencing change, you may also want to think about the reactions of other people in your life. They may also go through these stages as life will be different, and you may need their support. You could:
Consult them when you are making decisions and seek their advice
If you have a problem, ask for their help and listen to their views
Involve them in your vision and your plan for the future

Many of my clients face change when they come to see me, many want to make significant change in their life. If you would like more details, visit www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk.