Transformational change skills are already part of your skill set even if you don’t know it. This is fortunate because transforming your situation or yourself after a life or work change is multidimensional and requires many transition and resiliency skills. You will use skills you learned on the job, in previous challenging situations, and as you used your talents and wisdom.
Here are some transformational change skills to get you started.
• Be honest about what’s happening
• Face reality with courage
• Go beyond the normal question “Why is this happening to me?” and ask “What can I do next?” and “What can I learn from this?”
• Keep an open mind and an open heart
• Allow yourself to think and feel in a new way as you let go of the past
• Look for all the positives you can
• Focus on what you can do right now
• Treat your past with respect but don’t let it control your future
• Get support
• Realize you need family, friends, and community
• Recognize areas of personal growth
• Use the skills you learn in other areas of your life for true transformation
• Give yourself permission to take a break
• Distract yourself occasionally with fun activities so you don’t burn out
Transformational change skills do not make life perfect. They can make it successful and purposeful. It’s about practicing these skills, being patient with yourself, and allowing transformation to happen after you experience change. Your goal is lasting success and not fleeting relief from circumstances.
Use your transformational skills to ground your transformation in possibility, courage, a supportive environment, and trust in yourself and your abilities. Then, whenever you face a change, let these skills serve you well.