What is Your Personal Change Style?

Fear of change is overrated.

This quote from Ketzel Levine of NPR’s Morning Edition came at the end of her year long series on life changes. The career transitions chronicled on this radio program are astonishing – from doctor to real estate strategist, fireman to magician – and first hand stories give us a peek into how others experience change.

The remarkable fact that led to Ketzel’s comment is that of the 300 people she heard from for her program, not one complained that they wished they hadn’t made their dramatic life change. In fact they often welcomed the changes despite personal hardships.

In one story, 41 year old Casey Amato followed her dream to become a police officer after a personal crisis transformed her sense of self. Leaving behind a 20 year career in publishing, her family and son, she moved 600 miles from home to make a life change she had always wanted.

The Many Faces of Change
My friend Margit describes her approach to change as incremental steps forward – day to day, slow and steady. Small victories help her to move forward consistently and gently. In her words, “Change sucks!” But she challenges herself to move forward with power instead of dwelling on the chaos.

On the contrary, my own style of change is closer to a volcano. Starting one big project seems to open the dam and suddenly my whole life is shifting. It’s cyclical: a steady period followed by a big shake up, then calm again. While in change, I’m riding the waves and the adrenaline is rushing.

My client John makes a powerful metaphor for the changes he’s made in life: He started in a wide river packed with one-man canoes all going with the current. One day he turned right and started paddling with all his might against the current and away from all the other boats, bringing stares of disbelief from those still with the flow. Now he’s headed his own way along an isolated tributary in the wilde
ess -- toward what he really wants in life. He jumps into change with both feet and paddles like hell!

Do you feel the strength and courage it takes to choose change in life? Do you see how that courage comes through in all these approaches? Margit is a study in persistence; I hold on through the crests and valleys; and my client relies on willpower and muscle to get across the river.

However you approach it, change is hard, scary, exhilarating and life affirming. And it will happen in some way or form, whether you are ready for it or not. Take a look at your own change-style so you can welcome it, not fear it. Let your courage shine through!

What is Your Change Style?

As you get acquainted with your personal style for tackling change, here are some questions to ask yourself:

Do you plan your way through a change, task by task, or just let come what may?

Do you feel change is chaotic and stressful, thrilling and fun, or just something to get through?

Do you see change as a long term process or a quick fix?

Are you easily discouraged or derailed by changes that need to be made?

What are you willing to do to follow your dreams?