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Senior Correspondent

Is change hard? You bet it is! It takes courage to make changes in our lives.

Two things about that:

  1. Because it’s difficult doesn’t mean change shouldn't happen; and
  2. Not to make a change often means abandoning yourself because change is tied to hope.

One thing is for sure – uncertainty abounds. Having the courage to change doesn’t mean having no fear, it means acting despite the fear. Allowing yourself to do things that scare you a little feeds creativity and, of course, opens new possibilities.

Start with the question, “What is my hope for myself?” – and be honest. Visualize how you see yourself in some future state (condition, not place), and ask if the change you are considering will move you closer to that hope. If it doesn’t, perhaps it isn’t a positive change for you.

Here’s what I tell my clients: when you are clear about your hope for yourself then every decision you make should be reflected against that hope. If you do that, you can’t make a wrong choice. The hard work is not in making the decision but in clarifying one’s hope, and once you do that it becomes the guidepost for your journey.

This process serves well no matter what professional decision you have to make – from whether to take a new position or change direction, to hiring or firing an employee. Your hope for yourself, your organization, your work becomes your “true north.”

When you are faced with making a change and it feels frightening or overwhelming, look to your hope. This is true no matter what stage of life you are in.

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