Move UP, Move OVER, Move OUT: You, your teams and your families are involved in all of the above. Please attend our March 20th workshop.

In life, we all have different phases we go through. For example, there’s the honeymoon phase, raising children phase, supporting aging parents phase, the empty nester phase and hopefully, the retirement phase. 

Like all of you, Joe and I are dealing with a few of these phases, all at the same time. And with these phases comes dealing with change and making the life you want. It can be difficult to deal with these phases if you are not prepared. I am currently in the "taking care of an aging parent" phase. I believe it’s referred to as the Sandwich Generation. My 92 year old mother is a widow and is currently living independently at a senior center. When my father was dying 12 years ago, I made a promise to him that I would take care of my mother and for him not to worry. Over time, I have delivered on that promise, but have learned that I needed to redefine that promise, because I am not able to do it all by myself anymore.  

I used to have the mindset of “up by your bootstraps” when it came to dealing with change and getting things done. Many of us were raised to think that way growing up in the Midwest, USA. I ran myself ragged trying to balance it all with my mother's needs, taking care of my own family and running a business. Through my training and certification with Susan Van Vleet Consultants, Inc?, I have learned that to get the life I want, I need to (1) have the courage to ask for it and (2) be ready to get what I ask for! I needed to make requests from my two siblings. I used to think I could handle it all myself and I chose to suffer in silence. Not the right thing to do! I also started to have feelings of resentment towards my siblings for not "just knowing" they should help me. The SVVCI? Managing Corporate Change? workshop helped me to increase my self esteem to believe that I am worthy of asking as well as teaching me how to make requests. 

I now have an open dialogue with my siblings and I am transparent about the things I need. I’ve also learned how necessary it is to process my emotions about my feelings of being overwhelmed, resentment and anxiousness.  I recognize that I need to make requests of others so I can see new possibilities without any emotional baggage holding me back. It can be damaging to one’s self if we don’t learn how to do this early on.  Implementing these methods has improved our relationships greatly and is getting me the life I want!

 Joe and I are holding a public Managing Corporate Change? workshop March 20-23 in Brookfield, WI.  In this workshop, we will provide you a confidential environment to have an experiential learning experience and walk away with a support group and the tools you’ll need to handle the changes you are facing now and in the future phases of your life. We would love to have you participate in our workshop.

If you are interested in attending or if we can be of service, please let me know. I am happy to answer your questions.

 In good health, 

Bonnie