Dealing with the unknown impact of change
“Everything I’ve ever let go of has claw marks on it.” –David Foster Wallace
Is Mr. Wallace alone – or can you relate just a tiny bit? Or maybe a whole lot? We can relate because we all know that humans tend to resist change. But wait – is that really true? If your boss told you he or she was going to stop paying you 60,000 per year and start paying you 100,000 per year, would you resist it? Likely not. When you get right down to it, we are not afraid of change per se – rather it´s the unknown impact of change that keeps us up at night. Many of us are also a disaster at letting go of what feels comfortable. We hold ourselves back from what is possible by staying with what is familiar.
Albeit a bit of a cliché – the truth of it all is that change is inevitable. Change is a natural and necessary part of growth. But change is not always comfortable. This is why they call them growing pains. Living in a time of change – or in the process of letting go of what was and letting in what is – can be a roller coaster of joy and pain. This bumpy ride is also necessary to make space for what is possible.
Today I want to help you make it through the transition you are currently facing so you have more energy, greater joy and less stress. Interested? Spontaneously answer the questions below. Don´t analyze or judge. Just respond with what first pops into mind.
Letting go
- What was going on in your life before the change?
- What was the best part about it?
- What was your role in making these good things possible?
- What feelings from this time would you like to put in a bottle and take with you? (i.e. confidence, belonging, freedom)
Letting in
- What is going on in your life now?
- What is the best part about it?
- What is one small thing you can you do right now to (re)create the feeling you wanted to take with you?
Letting out
- What are you dreaming about for the future?
- Name three things you would like to see emerge as the unknown makes itself known.
Revisit your answers again in one month. Check in on how you are doing and what great things you have been able to (re)create in the present. Keep your vision of a bright future close in mind. When dealing with the unknown impact of change, we also have to accept that – no matter how hard we try – we can´t predict the future. We can, though, do our best to create a future which we look forward to living in. I hope that letting go, letting in and letting out will help you do just that.
[…] Be open to what was most meaningful to resurface in a different form. By taking small steps, you can make change and get more of what you want. For more specific ways to do this click here. […]