Your First Step Into Change

“The only constant in life is change.”

This quote is nearly 2500 years old – what a wise man the Greek philosopher Heraklitus has been! Ironically, nothing has changed since then...

Change is inevitable in our lives. Yet, it still seems that we still don’t master how to handle it with ease.

It happens to all of us, all of the time. Some changes are smaller, some are bigger. Some we choose ourselves. And some of them are thrown on us. Some just feel awful in the moment they happen. And some are more than welcome.

I would assume that somewhere in your life or career right now you are grappling with some kind of change. We all are. And even if it is sometimes hard to see when we are in the middle of it, change is a generous invitation for us to innovate and reinvent ourselves.

Over the years, I have changed my perspective on change (yes, one of my favourite changes is changing perspective!). And I’ve learned one thing which makes it much easier for me to hold my face into the wind of change without being blown away:

Letting go.

This seems to be the hardest thing about change. Letting go of what is familiar doesn’t feel good. Our brains and minds are not wired to like the unknown. Moving around in your known, cozy little space (aka comfort zone) makes you feel safe. Life is simple there. You feel you have your stuff together and are in control. It feels like “home” – even if you don’t like it there.

Change forces you to do some brain gym. You have to slow down, ask different questions, think in new ways. The new situation cannot be tackled with an old solution.

That means that embracing change and moving forward cannot happen as long as you live in the past. Being stuck there and ignoring or rejecting the change, doesn’t bring you ease and peace. The mere acceptance that change is happening is the first step to let go of what felt safe.

And then?

Become aware of how you’re feeling about the change: Does it scare you? Or excite you? Or both?

And why do you feel like you feel? What exactly is it that you’re afraid of? What causes your excitement? Often, this step is tied back to the comfort zone you’ve been in so far: what made you feel good in the known space that you’re sad or afraid to lose? What is it you are glad or relieved to not have in your life any longer? It’s like taking stock: What did I like in my comfort zone? What not?

You’ll see that you’ve been carrying around stuff that you didn’t really like, so it is your chance to get rid of it. And how can you keep the part you really liked when you move into something new?

Having clarity, you can explore your options.

Once you have a clear view on your so-far comfort zone, you have the space in your mind to see the opportunities, which lie in every change situation. You can lighten your backpack and move forward – embrace change and make a new start with ease!

Having gone through all the small and profound changes in my life (and there were quite many!), developing my “letting-go muscle” has made a huge difference. I’ve learned to welcome change with calm, and I don’t feel threatened by it. That doesn’t mean that I’m totally fearless when things change or I feel I need to change something myself! But I can at least pair it up with curiousity and excitement about what’s to come.

And one more thing: Looking back, I must say that I am grateful for the changes I encountered. Not necessarily HOW they happened – but THAT they happened. ALL of them taught me something fundamental, helped me grow and brought me to where I am now, no matter how hard or sad or exhausting some of them have been. So, whenever change is in the air, I remind myself – it’s a chance!

I’m curious to hear about your view and your most effective tool to navigate change, please share in the comments!

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BEHIND THE SCENES OF MY BUSINESS

During the last weeks, I have worked on being able to help even more people, who are ready to own their career and take back control over their path. I’m happy to share that I’ve developed 2 new ways of working with me:

In addition to my individual 1:1 coaching, which is still available, I have now also developed a small group coaching program. “No way I will share my concerns and worries and private thoughts about my career and life in a group!” I hear you say. And I totally get that, it was me about 2 years ago. Since then, I have been part of several group coaching courses, and I have completely changed my mind! It is so beneficial to be part of a small group of like-minded people, who are in a similar situation, face similar challenges, and share similar feelings about change. Yet, I thought the best way to introduce you to a small group is to offer a “hybrid” – which means that you’ll get the benefits of private sessions and group calls plus the support of a small community who is there for you on your journey – win win win!

AND…

I am also super excited to be able to offer a 3-day intensive in the Swiss Alps! Away from your desk and daily hustle and bustle, and surrounded by majestic mountain peaks, we will delve into your specific situation and set you up for your new direction. We work on your goals and vision for the next years and fill your energy tank with the power of nature. You will not only leave with clarity about your path and a clear road-map for your next steps, you will also gain resilience and fortitude to tackle the changes these days have in store for us. Powerful!

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BOOKS I LIKE

Brené Brown is one of my favourite researchers and experts in the field of leadership. Right now, I’m reading “Dare to Lead”, which has been on my list for so long.

And to relax my brain, I grabbed John Ironmongers “The Whale and the End of the World”.

How do you like my newsletter? I would love to know what you think! Drop me a line anytime. And don’t forget to subscribe and recommend it to whoever you think would like it.

Thank you! You’re awesome.

Much love ??

Brigitte

#careerchange #change #lettinggo #ownyourcareer