If you are looking to pro-actively bring about relevant, specific, and sustainable personal change, there is just one way to do it: DO THE WORK.
Coming to the mental and emotional place of deciding to change is a great start. Hiring a personal coach to help you formulate your strategy and hold you accountable to a timeline is a smart investment.
But, at the end of the day, your success is 100% dependent on what you do after the change decision is made and what you do in between those coaching sessions. Because that is when the rubber hits the road...that is when you must DO THE WORK.
Make no mistake...this won't be easy and there are no short cuts. Contrary to a current popular TV personal coach who wraps things up neatly within one hour by throwing around grand platitudes mixed with a few ratings-driving theatrics....you must DO THE WORK.
So, exactly what does it mean to 'do the work'?
Here's my theory:
It's an ever -fluctuating combination of the following four fundamental tasks you must commit to embracing each and every day.
And, you must anticipate that there will be some days when you will likely be wrestling with one or more of them on a moment-by-moment basis as you strive to re-align your thoughts and behaviors to a new vision for yourself, regardless of whether it's a personal or professional change you are seeking.
1. Stand In Truth
Don't sugarcoat the 'what is' of your current situation. Look in the mirror and be brutally honest. Back up what you see with hard, cold facts to be sure your truth is real (and not smoothed over to be more comfortable to accept). Something is not working, is missing, no longer fits, or simply not bringing you success or else you wouldn't be looking to change it....so, call it what it is.
2. Own Your Part
Accept this fact: Whatever your truth is, you either a) have caused it, b) have consciously or unconsciously nurtured it, or c) did nothing to prevent it or end it. Victimhood has no place in this fundamental task. The good news is that the very same personal power you used to cause or foster your current situation is the same source that will help you move out of it. So, embrace it.
3. Out Your Stuff
We all do it - we justify, contextualize, and marginalize our truth or our part in the truth to feel better about ourselves. Stop doing that...knock it off. Call yourself out on your own diversionary tactics that diminish your truth or allow you to disavow your part in it. Respect yourself enough not to accept your own BS.
4. Choose The Suck
Change and the day-to-day tasks to bring about change suck.
Fact: EVERY day, you will have to choose different behaviors, actions, thoughts, approaches, and uses of your time that will move you toward your desired change. There will be days when choosing new things will be tiresome, annoying, uncomfortable, and restrictive....it will suck. Choose the new and unfamiliar every day...every moment of every day.
One final thought:
