Easy Change Strategies (10)

During

During a time of change it helps to have someone to lean on for support! Make sure you have a variety of supporters who assist you with all your needs, emotionally, physically and practically. Tell them what you hope to get from them and make sure they know that you will reciprocate!

Easy Change Strategies (9)

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Welcome!
Still more change to come? YES! Just when you think you have it all figured out, something comes up and there you go...CHANGE has happened again. Sound familiar? It seems to me that is what I constantly experience. There was, however, a wonderful analogy in one of the Insight Educational Seminars that I took more than 10 years ago. So what was it? Well, here goes:
If you take a plane from New York to London (and wouldn't we like to do that?) how much is it on course during the flight? In percent - how much is the plane directly on course or is it at times not quite on course? Think about it and then write down the answer. No, no cheating - I'm not going to give you the answer right away. Just take into consideration the wind that blows in different directions depending on your flying height. Also, isn't the planet rotating during the approximately 8 hours that the plane is in the air? AND isn't the most direct route not necessarily due east but across the northern part of the globe? Aha, you say. I get it. The plane is not always on the direct course. And right you are! But how much percentage-wise? 50% or is 45% or only 25% because the pilot must know where she is going? Or is there a constant change of direction and adjustment at all times? Are we there yet? Yup. It's 97%. Which means the pilot indeed must constantly adjust or CHANGE the direction of the plane's flight. So what has that to do with "Easy Change Strategies".
Well, if the pilot has to constantly adjust direction, how long can he wait to do the change? Not very long! His job is to change quickly and decisively. Remember the first blog and Yogi Berra?
Wherever you go - there you are!? Yes, exactly. But if that is not where you want to be - than you have to adjust course. From off-course to on-course. Again and again. And soon it is just a matter of doing what you know must be done. Now we're at "Easy Change Strategies". Just Do It, said the Nike ad. And so: "Let's Do It!"
But remember, the pilot makes minimal adjustments and so do we. It is supposed to be EASY!
Something which you can do. Then just do it. And look around. Are you in the place you want to be?
If yes, good. If not: adjust again a little and so on. Remember the first small steps. Yup, I know you have read the first BLOGS.
Let me know what happened. Are you there yet?

Easy Change Strategies (8)

Cab Calloway via last.fm

Hi again!
While some of the strategies mentioned can be offered to other people it needs to be clear:

The only person we can change is.....US!

To be honest, I sometimes forget that too and then I usually get into trouble. One can of course offer change strategies to others, I hope!
So let's journey on. My eight's posting and I have already passed the 3 week period it supposedly takes to change a habit. Well, I wonder if I have changed into a blogger?

One of the hardest "easy change strategies" is the STRETCH. By that I mean you do something that is out of your comfort zone.
Like, two weeks ago I did go soaring for the first time. To fly in the air without a motor was absolutely wonderful! Did I have to go out of my comfort zone? Well, yes somewhat. I had to trust a young man who looked like he could be my grandson. And I had to trust a plane that literally had "band-aid" keeping some of the "skin" on the plane, was rusty and old too. But it flew like a bird!
Was that a stretch? No. I was doing something I had never done before and trusted someone I didn't know. But really "I wanted it". If you want to feel free, try soaring!

If you want to try something different. Volunteer! I once volunteered to assist with a concert. A board member was to be picked up and I had to help get her to where she needed to be. Who do I wind up waiting with for his wife......Cab Calloway! That was a thrill. He did flash that signature smile of his and we had a brief chat. So surprise yourself and see where you can do some good and perhaps life will have a surprise for you as well!
Let me know what happened.

Easy Change Strategies (7)

Image via CrunchBase

Hi everyone!
Are you having the seven year itch? Want to change the way you interact with your significant other? Sometimes other Change Facilitators can say it so much better:
On 8/1/09 the New York Times published an article by Laura A. Munson
"Those Aren't Fighting Words, Dear" - Very eloquent and to the point.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/fashion/02love.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Laura%20A.%20Munson&st=cse

If you paste this into your browser it should get you to the article. If not it is worth the extra search time at the NY Times.
I would love to hear how you keep your marriage happy and the family together.
Tweet me @NYdigger

Easy Change Strategies (6)

Some change "happens" - just when you least want it. Just look at the current economic situation. Losing your job has effected millions and caused disastrous changes to their personal lives. How can we prevent that? The answer is simple - We can not!
So how do we deal with "disaster"? That will be a workshop given soon in the New York City area (look for the side bar notification).
But as a free bonus for reading this far....here are some suggestions.
Easy Change Strategy - look what others in your situation have done.
When I was laid off from a job in international banking, I found the "Forty Plus" group. A group of unemployed executives assisting each other in dealing with the job loss and preparing for the job hunt.
Easy Change Strategy -find neighborhood groups assisting with job hunts (churches, temples, professional business groups)
Easy Change Strategy - ask the government for help, i.e. state and county often have Department of Labor offices especially designed to help the unemployed (in my town its called
"One Stop" office. They have great resources!)
The important part is "not to wind up on the couch" -Do something - ANYTHING!
It will make you feel better, I promise!

This is of course from personal experience in my family. Both my wife and I have been laid off at one time in the last 5 years (and I have had more than 3 different jobs).
Did I give up? Nearly so! Do I like what I am doing now from 9 to 5? NO! But it pays the rent and has great benefits which came in handy when the latest "Change" hit us....My wife is diagnosed with breast cancer. Another unwanted change. And it really changes your perspective on the daily life!
Stay in touch with your firends. They are your back-up team!