What to Do When Life Shifts: 5 Ways to Create More Flow in Your Life by Carol McClelland Fields, PhD, BCC
When something isn’t working well in your life or when a shift takes you by surprise, you may be tempted to fix what’s not working as soon as possible. In the discomfort of the moment, your quest is to find a suitable resolution, so you don’t have to feel the heaviness of what has become undone.
Unfortunately, in your rush to action you inadvertently limit your success. If you act immediately, you are making decisions and choices based on your current understanding of the situation and yourself. Without any new wisdom or perspective, you’ll only see the options that you’ve always seen, and you’ll be more likely to repeat the patterns of your past.
To create more flow in your journey follow these guidelines.
When you notice a shift or a need to change something in your life. Start by sorting out what’s just happened. Think through the kinds of information you need at this time. Assess what options you have for getting some support and begin to sketch out your next steps. Rather than taking immediate action or making life-altering decisions, you are making sense of your situation in the moment so that you can set yourself up for what’s coming next.
Give yourself time to catch your breath. Times of change can be exhausting given all of the uncertainty and unknowns. Before turning your focus toward your path forward, give yourself the opportunity to refuel, slow down to rest, and get back in tune with yourself and your body. From this renewed place, you’ll be able to be more responsive, nimble, and authentic.
Start to connect with who you are becoming as a result of the shifts in your life. As you turn the page on a part of your life, give yourself time to reflect on who you are now, what you value, what interests you, and what you need to thrive. Even if you don’t have all or any of the answers, this reflective exploration will open up new questions, new solutions, and new directions for you. From this intuitive and creative place, you will see your situation in a whole new light. Explore the new array of options and possibilities to determine your best direction.
When you start a new phase of your life, there’s are new roles and responsibilities to figure out. Although you’ve been craving this new beginning, now that it’s here, it may feel more uncomfortable than you anticipated. It’s normal to feel both excited and nervous, energized and vulnerable. Trust the flow of your energy. When you feel uneasy, take a step back to refine what you intend to do next. When you feel confident, step out gently in the way that feels most comfortable to you. Over time, as you gain more experience, you’ll mature into your new roles with grace and ease.
Celebrate the changes you’ve made. Take a moment to look back at how far you’ve come since this shift in your life. Notice how you’ve grown, take note of your successes, and mark your progress. Be sure to celebrate your accomplishments and harvest the wisdom you’ve gained throughout this journey. Enjoy this time by being in the moment and savoring what you’ve created for yourself. Feel the expansiveness that comes with feeling vibrantly alive.
One way to track your progress is to keep a journal during each phase so that you can look back and notice what has changed. Honoring each phase of this journey, in order, allows you to create a strong foundation for your next step. By staying present in the moment, you start to notice small signs of momentum that will continue to grow organically with each step you take.
Carol McClelland Fields, PhD, an award-winning author and Board Certified Coach, provides inspiration and practical support for those who are in the midst of transition. Embrace a new relationship with change. Carol works with people globally, including professionals who work with clients in transition, as an emerging or seasoned coach, therapist, or other Change Catalyst. Download Carol's eBook, Riding the Waves of Change: Growing, Healing, and Evolving Through Times of Deep Uncertainty at www.CarolMcClellandFields.com.