Our Experts
managing change—April 2009
by Jennifer Conaway, CTACC, CCP | Email me if you questions or comments | Back to List of Articles
Believe in the Power of You- Believe in You
By Jennifer Conaway, CTACC, CCP
“What do you mean you’re concerned about getting this done? You are
the most can-do person I know!”
“I know but everyone around me is affected- friends are just overwhelmed,
my husband looks concerned, he’s not right somehow. I don’t know if
I can get all of this done,” she moaned.
“Are you spending a lot of time worrying? Or doing what you always do?
Taking action, moving forward one step at a time?”
She paused, “Oh, that IS what I usually do- I just move forward one
step at a time. I don’t even think about how MUCH has to get done, I
just do it. I guess I just need to get back to that place.”
She is truly one of the most positive, can do people I have ever met.
Yet, here she was worried about getting some additional things accomplished
and about bringing in extra money to help the family.
I’ve had similar conversations with clients and friends over the last
few weeks. Everything happening around you may cause you to question
the way you have always operated and your belief in yourself.
The environment may challenge even the strongest belief in you. For
those individuals trying to build that trait, it can at times, feel
impossible to focus.
On the other hand, this is a tremendous opportunity! What a wonderful
time to fully embrace your power. Now is the time to focus on the power
you have to influence every action you take, every situation you are
involved in and every one around you.
YOU have the power to find the positive in challenges, to continue to
move forward- building the life you really want- in any environment.
If you are in the middle of a transition or just in the middle of life
how do you do this?
Start with yourself. Start with the way you view the world around you.
Instead of focusing on everything that might seem to be going wrong,
find the one thing (or two or three things) that is going right- if
you don’t feel like anything is going right find something beautiful
to focus on. Every morning I walk outside and focus on something in
nature, a flower, a new bud, the aesthetics of a tree with no leaves-
and am grateful for the beauty of that item. It’s a great way to start
my day. From there I spend a few minutes identifying other pieces of
my life I really love.
How do you feel when you focus on the good areas, rather than on the
other areas?
Now look into yourself. Do you believe yourself to be strong and capable?
Why would that change simply because you are in a transition? The transition
provides ample opportunity to take your greatest strengths and put them
to use. Believe that your strengths will serve you in all situations.
Take the time to look at what makes you- You. What are the characteristics?
For instance, I am spiritual, organized, focused, down-to-earth and
funny. How can I apply these characteristics, which have always carried
me through any circumstance, to my current transition?
I will admit to abandoning all of the things that I believed about myself
to try to move through a transition. It was not a good idea- I ended
up confused, unsure of myself and not at all successful. That was one
of the most frustrating times in my life.
It wasn’t until a peer, a very successful peer, said, “I have learned
one very important thing, DO IT YOUR WAY.” – that I realized what I
had done. I tried to mold myself into what everyone said I needed to
be- instead of relying on what had always worked for me. I stopped believing
in myself and focused instead on the ‘shoulds’ all around me. You know
what a should is- You should do it this way. The book says every successful
(insert role here) should do it that way.
You are an individual. Before you buy in to all of those shoulds ask
if it feels right to you. Does it mesh with your strengths, with the
characteristics that have always helped you move forward? Without a
strong belief in yourself you can follow every ‘should’ ever written
and you may never succeed- or you may be miserable in your success.
Once I started focusing on my talents and the belief that I could succeed
my way everything turned around. Clients showed up. Conversations were
easier- I was focusing on what made me great- not what made the latest
book great.
Every time I question what I am doing I ask myself- is this a part of
me, does this support my belief in my gifts and myself?
You owe it to yourself to believe in you. If you don’t no one else will.
When you believe in yourself and put your best forward others around
you will do the same.
How do you tune out the voices telling you the transition will never
work? That you simply cannot do it? Thank them for their concern. Quietly
listen to your inner voice. Acknowledge the success you had today. Even
if that success was getting out of bed. When you have the flu- that
might be your success for today.
Keep in mind- we all start small. Picking up the phone to speak with
the Masters Degree Administrator is one step into putting your belief
in yourself to work and to getting that MBA. It takes only one step
at a time to create a successful transition.
Your greatest strength are your innate gifts, the gifts that make you
feel good when put to use. The gift of creating laughter, the gift for
painting, for car repairs. Believe in that gift, believe in yourself.
That is the belief that will create the transition and life you most
desire.
Next month- why balance is so important to your transition.
by Jennifer Conaway, CTACC, CCP | Email me if you questions or comments | Back to List of Articles
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