Refueling in times of change

Greetings Gods and Goddesses of Grime,

It’s been quite a while since I have had the oportunity to enter a “refueling posting” on the bulletin board, due to some unique working situations. I now look forward to picking up where I left off, sending tidbits of information your way that hopefully will add life to your years (since I can’t add years to your life )

The author of THE PRINCE (Machiavelli) wrote, “There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to condut, or uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things…”

With all the exciting new changes we are experiencing as a company, I thought now would be a good time to share a few informational nuggets about change:

Change is a “physical” ending of something (like turning on a light switch — it was dark, now poof! it’s light). That’s the easy part. The part we resist are the “transitional phases” we experience during change.

Transition is the “psychological” process which all indivdiauls experience in times of change. There are (3) phases of transition.

Phase One: ENDING :of something, ending of what was/what was known to be. Typcial responses to this transition: protest, anger.

What can help you in transitional phase One? Identify exactly what is ending and why. Once we can connect with the “what and why” we can begin to move forward without dragging the past behind us. Realize that change occurs all around us. Nothing really stays the same over time (our age-unfortunetly, our children, our experiences, our relationships, nature, etc.) Some things MUST come to an end in order for the new to begin. In nature and life, the gestational phase must end for life to begin.

So, acknowldege not only what was good about the old, celebrate what was, talk about how it got you to where you are today, and don’t forget to acknowledge the limitations of “what used to be”. By doing so, you begin to open the door to the possibilities of the new.

Phase Two: The NEUTRAL ZONE. When in the neutral zone, we tend to feel like we’ve stepped of the safe curb, right into the choas of traffic, and we are frantic to get to the safety of the curb on the other side of the street.

During this phase of change, what we knew to be has ended and we are working on putting the new into our routine. This can be very uncomfortable because of the “unknown” factor. We don’t know what the “NEW” will be like, and by nature we try to compare it with the old, and then we start with the “what if’s…” :what if I don’t like it, what if it’s harder, what if, what if, what if… Common reactions to this phase: blame, anger, frustration, fear, impatience, hurry.

What can you do during this phase to help you move forward more positively? Set little goals for each day so the NEW doesn’t seem so overwhelming. Find a positive support person to encourage you while you try the new. Decide how much energy you are willing to spend on the little “paper cuts” of change…you know, those little superfiscial, yet irritating things of daily living. Keep in mind, paper cuts tend to take care of themselves and rarely, if ever, leave a scar. So decide where you want to expend your energies…on some little hiccup that will not have a lating life-long effect – or on the big, forward moving activities that will benefit your business and your life. The “New” will never be perfect. Nothing is perfect. My friend once told me that “it’s in the imperfections that true beauty lies….” Instead of letting the imperfections drag you down, look for the beauty of what can be!

Third Phase: The NEW BEGINNING. Ta!Da! This phase begins when the confusion of the “neutral zone” settles down, when the new has become part of the routine, when emotions have calmed and logic prevails 😆 Common reactions in this phase: excitement, sense of calm, confidence, etc.

Celebrate each phase, because that means you are moving forward.
Once we understand the phases of change and know what to do when we are going through them, then we can begin to work WITH the change, rather than having it work against us.

“One change makes way for the next, giving us the opportunity to grow.”
(Vivian Buchen)

“The very key to our success has been our ability, foremost among nations, to preserve our lasting values by making change work for us rather than against us.” (Ronald Reagan)

May you find peace in your day and joy in your heart.

Kathlynn

Kathlynn McConnell, PR
Heaven’s Best