What Do You Believe About Change?
Do you believe your life is constantly changing and nothing ever stays the same? Many of the changes you experience are external, which means you have no control over them. What you do have control over is how you react and deal with these new circumstances. Your response is an indication of how successfully you will transition through them to your new beginning.
No matter what the significance of your change and subsequent transition, there are certain elements that affect the success or failure of your efforts. For example: suppose you are taking a new job which requires you to move to another state. Some of the elements of successfully moving from one state to another depend on what you believe about yourself. Would you be willing to change your conduct, allowing you to break through old patterns of behavior?
Believing In Yourself
I have three siblings who were diagnosed with three different kinds of cancer over the last 10 to 12 years. Before each of them received their diagnosis, they were living their lives with good health habits. However, as life would have it, they were each faced with this terrible disease. As they progressed through their treatment, they believed in their ability to follow the treatment protocol and do what they were encouraged to do. Most of all, they believed in their capacity to heal. They had the strength and courage to face their diagnosis and treatment no matter how scared they were. In each situation with each sibling, I remember being scared for them.
Sometimes, it seems like all we have is a belief in ourselves. Believing in themselves was a positive way my siblings coped with this health transition. Like them, you must remind yourself that you do have the resilience and past experiences with successful changes and transitions. The road to recovery can be a long one, but trusting in themselves and their medical team and their extended support system of family, friends, and colleagues softened the impact of their transitions. Fortunately, all three of my siblings are now doing very well and are in remission.
Being Willing To Make Behavior Changes
Almost five years ago, another family member in his late 30s decided he wanted to pursue a career change that would take him back to his original intention of being in the medical field. With a huge leap of faith and belief in himself, he went back to school. As he embarked on this new career path, he knew he had to change many of his behaviors to accomplish his new career goal.
Going back to school after almost 20 years of being away from the classroom, doing homework, writing papers, and studying for exams was a huge undertaking. This new career path was complicated by the fact that he was a hands-on single parent of two small boys and needed to balance school and work to support them. He is now a Registered Nurse, fulfilling his lifelong desire of being a helping professional in the medical field. This transition as a single parent, navigating complicated terrain, wasn’t easy but the sacrifices he made for this outcome have made it all worthwhile.
During his transition, he received a lot of support from his family and friends along with his instructors. At times, it must have been overwhelming, but he was able to come up with the systems that worked best for him to accomplish his new career goal. Behavior changes through transitions require self-discipline.
Breaking Through Self-Limiting Thoughts
Another family member also changed her career path after starting in what, for her, was an unrewarding career. In her late 20s, she decided that she wanted to leave the corporate world and start her own business. She had always valued physical fitness and decided to take extensive training before purchasing a franchise. She now has three successful fitness studios in the Metro-DC area and has learned a lot of best-business practices.
What helped her to accomplish this dramatic career change was breaking through fears about starting a business and confronting her own self-doubt. This allowed her to find the courage, strength, and confidence within herself to build her business. This transition wasn’t trouble-free. Being willing to sacrifice short-term gratification for long-term benefit is part of a transition. It isn’t always comfortable but because she valued the importance of this transition, she found constructive ways of moving through it.
The Benefits Of Transitions
- You will experience breakthroughs you never imagined when you believe in yourself
- Facing big changes in your life is a great way to build confidence in yourself
- Flexing your “confidence muscle” helps you stay agile and ready to take on all kinds of changes and transitions-those you initiate yourself and those that life presents to you
Believe in yourself and your ability to change. Be willing to make behavior changes and sacrifices. Have the courage to confront self-limiting thoughts and discomforts that keep you from having the confidence to change. Only then can you enjoy the benefits of your life and work transitions.
Dee Cascio
Author, speaker, Licensed Psychotherapist, Certified Life Coach, Retirement Lifestyle/ReCareer Coach, and Life and Work Transitions Strategies Coach.
As you face changes and transition in life and work, I welcome the opportunity to assist you either on a one-on-one basis or in a group coaching setting in order to meet your needs. Please contact me.
The Life and Work Transitions Community
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