Can Change Be a Life Saver For You?

Many years ago I met a lady who did something brave and adventurous (at least in my eyes). She saw a certain city in her dream and felt quite urged to move there, in spite of the fact that this particular city was on the other side of the world and she was not much of a traveler. However, she did an honest evaluation of her life, ended her unhappy marriage of 25 years, kissed her grown-up kids goodbye and set off for the city she’d seen in her dreams. At that time she was in her late fifties and the country she moved to represented a lot of challenges for her (the language barrier being just one). Yet she was full of energy and always on the lookout for the next adventure.

When I asked her how she’d found the courage to turn her life around in such a big way, she gave me the answer that I still remember and use quite often when I need to make a big decision. She said: “I had realized that if I stayed and continued living my life the way I was living it, I would die – perhaps not physically but emotionally, for sure. If I left, there was still a possibility I would die, because you just never know. But there was also a possibility that I would survive, because you just never know. The 50% chance of survival was a strong enough motivator for me!”

Isn´t her reply just so true? We are often so afraid of change but the reason we want a change in the first place is because something is currently missing or not working, right? Well, if the current situation is “killing us” (figuratively), why are we still holding on to it for dear life when something new, something we have never tried before, offers us the valuable 50% chance of “possibility”?

I personally believe that the reason why many people can´t find the guts to go through with a change is because they understand that if they initiate the change, they need to hold themselves accountable for the outcome. And that requires a lot of courage.

On the other hand, doesn´t holding yourself accountable represent a huge degree of freedom? I still remember one of my first job interviews ever, when as a fresh new university graduate I demanded to manage the whole department. (Of course, they laughed at me at the time, only to give it to me 6 months later). Yes, it was a lot of responsibility but with that also came a lot of freedom to make my own decisions (I guess that is why I love having my own business).

If you are still on the fence regarding a change you are currently facing, remember that:
1.) The urge for change has come over you because the status quo no longer makes you happy. That in itself should be a great motivator to shake your world a little bit (or a lot!).
2.) If contemplating the possible outcomes scares you, remember the 50% possibility that everything will be just perfectly fine (and it will be!).
3.) If it is your accountability (or the lack of it) that is holding you back, imagine what you could do if you looked at that accountability as a regained opportunity for freedom and making your decisions without asking for permission to those who can´t give it to you anyway, because…after all…it is YOUR life. You want to live it your way and if the path toward having it “your way” includes making many changes, so be it. You are absolutely up for it and I believe in you.

Copyright: LB Coaching 2011