Is fear of change holding you back?

Is there something in your life that you would love to change, but you don’t know how to start? Or perhaps you fear the outcome won't be what you expected, or the real “biggie”: what if I fail?

Well, what if you don’t fail? What if that change opens up your life in a way you couldn’t possibly have imagined?

Sometimes change is inflicted upon us: redundancy, unexpected illness, relationship breakdown, etc. That can place it outside of our control, which is scary.

What if you made the change first and put yourself back in the driving seat (when you can, ofcourse) ? If you know that your employer is struggling and job losses have been implied, you may decide not to wait for the axe to fall. You could start exploring your options, updating your CV or looking for that great new job now. Who knows where your skill set could take you?

Are you doing something that you know is not a good habit for your health? Poor diet, over-consumption of alcohol, smoking or other habits can all have an impact. 

Making changes now, whether that is improving your diet, speaking to your GP, accessing specialist support or joining a programme that fits your particular need, can help you feel more in charge of your future.

And relationships - the rationale for staying in unhappy relationships can be endless: “It used to be great once, I’m sure it can be again” or “I don’t want to hurt his/her feelings” or “I can’t afford to leave”. We are only on this planet for a limited period of time. Do you really want to spend it in relationships that are stifling, depressing, boring or frightening? If you feel unsafe in a relationship, it is important to seek appropriate support.

How do you prepare for change?

Here are four key steps to get you started:

1. Recognise the need to change

There is such a thing as a “comfortable rut” that gets more uncomfortable with time. Don’t keep your head in the sand; be brave and see your situation for what it really is.

2. Remember you don’t always need to do it alone

List all your support and resources, such as friends, websites or a great coach (if you feel coaching could be the right professional support route for you).

3. Recognise your own abilities

Start now and list your top 10 skills. Examples on this list might be: “good listener”, “tenacious”, “well organised”, etc. Follow this with your qualifications and knowledge and then give yourself a good pat on the back. 

4. Set a date, a time and a method

Decide when you are going to take your first step, how you are going to do it, and then just keep going. Reviewing and adjusting the plan as you go is always OK - as long as you stay consistent, hold yourself accountable and remain realistic.