THINKING OF MAKING A MAJOR SHIFT IN YOUR LIFE? HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE CHANGE.

One of the most popular topics on my radio show is reinvention. Whether it’s the economy and lay-offs, or simply a need to do something with more meaning and purpose, more and more people are contemplating change in there lives and careers. I once heard that no one likes change except a baby when its wet. Many of us go through our lives blithely accepting what comes until some major event forces our hand. Then we have to face those difficult questions: why did this happen to me? Why am I so unhappy? How can I change the way I am living, what I am doing?

The most successful people I know are not necessarily smarter, wealthier, or better connected than the average American. What they have is a vision and they are willing to follow that vision regardless of the costs. They have the same doubts, concerns, and obstacles as the next person, but they stay the course. They also practice some simple principles I will share with you.

5 Tips for Making a Change:

- Have a Clear Vision of the End Goal. You may not know how you are going to get there, and life might throw you some curve balls, but if you have a clear vision of where you want to end up, what it will look like, feel like, what you will be doing when you get there, then you will correct your path when obstacles present themselves. The journey is never going to be what you think it is. There will always be unexpected twists and turns, but if you keep your eyes focused on the prize, the twists and turns might even be beneficial.

- Keep a Journal of Your Journey. Get a small notebook and write your goal on the first page. Then regularly take notes about what is going on in relation to that goal: people you talk to, leads you find, thoughts that just “pop into your head” ( I happen to believe those thought are Divine Inspiration). This record will help you see what needs to be done and how far you have come.

- Learn to live with Fear. Being afraid of what the future holds when you change things is part of the process. It’s ok to be afraid. It’s not ok to let that fear stop you. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

-Tell Everyone You Know What you are Doing. You never know where help is going to come from. My radio show came to fruition because I told the mother of one of my daughters friends and she gave me the name of a man who hosted a show that she had been on who in turn gave me the name of the programming director at his station. People are very generous with advice and suggestions and they may lead you to the one person, place or thing that will help you on your way.

- Trust Your Gut.

You have good instincts. You have an inner voice that guides you. But most of us don’t listen to that voice very often or ignore it completely. In order to get back in touch with that voice, you need to be still. Praying, meditating, sitting quietly in the sun and letting your thoughts come to you in a gentle manner, is the best way I know to be still and get in touch with that voice. One of my guests suggested taking a timer and setting it for 15 minutes (don’t lay down-I did and promptly fell asleep). The only rules are to have complete silence and not do anything goal oriented. For instance, if you want to take a walk make it about enjoying nature not meeting your exercise goals. If you do this every day, that inner gut instinct will start to get stronger. And when it does, listen to it.

Change is a good thing. Risk is a good thing. Questioning your present circumstances and reassessing where you are is a very good thing. It is change that makes us grow and keeps life interesting.

So here’s to change and Carpe Diem!