By Sunny Simon
As a career coach, I consider myself a change agent and teach others to embrace change. Taking internal stock over the past week I must fess up. I found myself falling into the Cobbler’s Children Syndrome. You remember the shoemaker who was so busy making shoes for the townspeople his own children went shoeless. Well, color me shoeless, but not clueless.
Okay, so part of the problem is I am busy helping others. The other half of the equation means I’ve allowed myself to sink into my comfort zone. It happens gradually and without warning. One day you just wake up and realize nothing is changing.
Living in that comfy routinized sector is so alluring. Everything is familiar with no threat of risk or challenge. In the zone you maintain a low stress level, relatively free of anxiety. Don’t be deceived, that is not a good thing. Even my dog recognizes the need for change. Sure, Zoli has his favorite napping favorite places, but he continues to find new and different areas of our home for an afternoon siesta.
Think of your comfort zone like visiting your parent’s home. You can rest there for awhile, but you cannot live there. If you ever tried returning to the nest, you know what I mean. The reason parenting birds push their offspring out of that cozy feathered shell is so they can fly.
Need to bust out of the nest? Commit to making changes. It’s okay to start small. One of the authors of “The 52 Weeks: How Two Women Got Unstuck, Got Inspired, and Got Going,” started by incorporating blueberries into her daily diet. From there she branched out into trying a new challenge every week and did everything from enrolling in a poker class to taking tango lessons.
Don’t overthink it. Just do it. Right now take the next ninety seconds to conjure up the change you will incorporate into your life this week. On a roll now? Excellent! Make a list of things that exist in your “someday I will” fantasy. Next get your calendar out. Long ago I learned nothing happens unless it is planted firmly on your schedule. Crank up your excitement level by mapping it out.
Feeling fearful of change? That’s normal. What if you don’t like skydiving? Fine, don’t continue jumping out of planes, but kudos to you for venturing out. You gave your brain a boost. Now put away your adult coloring book, strap on your dancing shoes and tap your way to a more exciting life.
Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching and the author of the blog, www.lifeonthesunnyside.net
