All progress happens through processes of change. To understand how to better create change, you need to learn to work with the process. There are two types of change you should be aware of:
1. Involuntary change – something that someone else initiated for you
2. Voluntary change – something you initiated yourself
The first category, involuntary change, consists of sudden, often traumatic, events, such as being filed for a divorce or having your employment contract terminated. Your first response to this, usually is resistance. Knowing about this, will simply help you through the first phase to acceptance. Here it's important to remember that the resistance you feel can be the necessary friction that will energize you towards change.
The second category, voluntary change, is something you have desired to do, such as yourself quitting your job to get another, or leaving your spouse. It can also be moving to a different location, or even changing your appearance with a new haircut and style. What is working for you here, is that since it’s by your own initiative, it’s a welcome change with much less resistance to overcome. Therefore, you’ll accept it most likely directly. If you like to see someone else change, remember that person can only commit to change, when he or she finds his/her own motivation to, his/her own understanding and desire to, with a clear reward.
When you focus on becoming the one initiating change, you can also try to look into any situation or relationship that might create change for you, so that you become better prepared. Understanding why some things must change, whether yearly seasons or by pent up frustration, is also a source of change energy in itself that you can welcome. What needs to change and why in your life? And what do you need in order to conduct this change, in forms of support and resources?
Phases that follow are: planning, execution and evaluation. Did you reach your goal? How does this make you feel? What can you do to continue this? What is your reward?
After you have conducted a change, you might also want to incorporate a plan to maintain your new change, how to repeat it if necessary, and how to protect what you just received. This in turn, also prepares you for any other changes that will come your way.
Can you think of any changes you would like to see in your life? Contact a professional lifecoach to get you clear about what, why and how!
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