Making Change, Managing Overwhelming Circumstances

Change is hard, not just the kind that takes you by surprise, but the kind that you propel yourself toward. Here are some tops on how to propel toward a difference through incremental change and the sense of being overwhelmed. I offer this advice as someone who as lived it as well as someone who has often advised others.

Tips:

1. Clearly define goals, not just the big things…operationalize, come up with the signposts so you know you are close to your goals as well as the steps (the pathways) for getting to them.

2. Identify pitfalls, barriers, hardships, and potential holdups, put this list in your journal

3. Make a timeline and consider not only the signposts but also places where you should sit down and reassess your strategies, make a couple…

• a. best case scenario with no hold ups
• b. okay and delayed scenarios
• c. and then the scenario that you are hoping will never ever come true…

4. Because having clear goals is not easy, keep a journal where you write about

• a. what you want
• b. if it is still what you want
• c. if your strategies for getting there are feasible and enjoyable

5. Much like goals, strategies need to be clearly stated…and also much like goals sometimes they need to be reworked. As you set your timeline, include in the schedule moments to assess if the strategies are working and sometimes it just takes a little bit longer before you should stop and try something else.

6. Post your accomplishments

7. Keep a list of what you have yet to achieve