Moving Through Change – Part 3

This is part 3 of a series on the Change Cycle. You can read part 1 here and part 2 here.

We are continuing to unpack the stages of the Change Cycle. Today, we are looking at Stage 3, the EXPLORATION.

This is where you are trying to understand the change you’re facing. Stages 2 and 3 often overlap because this is also where you are exploring all those emotions that are coming up. At this stage, you are seeking to understand the change and what it will mean for you.

The EXPLORATION stage can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not sure where to even begin. Here are four things to support you as you navigate this stage.

No Judgment

First and most importantly, here there can be no judgment. You have to let go of judgment because if judgment is present, truth will not show up. The two cannot exist in the same place.

Also, judgment interrupts learning. To fully embody this stage, let go of judgment.

The simplest way to do this is a mantra I use all the time in my work. I say it so much, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be on my tombstone. The mantra is simply No Judgment.

Say it as often as you need to so you can access what your emotions want you to know. And also, so you can access the truth inside you. There is wisdom waiting for you to reveal itself to you. No judgment!

Be Curious

Replace your judgment with curiosity. With curiosity, you have a chance to see things in a new way. A fresh perspective can emerge, and you might find yourself delightfully surprised by that perspective.

Your curiosity becomes an anchor as you try to understand what’s happening for you.

This stage is where you begin to ask new questions. It can feel like you’re spinning in circles, but really, you’re getting closer to yourself. So, stay curious.

Journaling

Journaling remains one of my favorite tools for getting to deeper truths. Too often, things on the surface cloud your ability to understand what’s happening. It feels like you’re in a fog with no clear path forward.

Journaling can help to reveal the path. It is a tool to guide you through this season, and to be clear, you ARE in a new season. Yes, it is a messy, unclear, often chaotic season, and still it is a season. It’s called the messy middle for a reason.

Journaling can make sense of the mess. In putting pen to paper, light emerges that illuminates the dark places. I don’t know how it works, I can only tell you that it does work.

Journaling brings new insight, which will bring you to the next stage, the ENLIGHTENMENT, which I’ll talk about in the next post.

Acceptance

For now, I want to say this has the potential to be a season of discovery. Of redefining who you are and what matters to you now. It’s a chance to decide what is true for you, rather than what you thought needed to be true.

The exploration stage gives you permission to consider the possibilities awaiting you on the other side. It’s permission to dream again. Is it easy? Absolutely not. Is it worth it in the end? Yes, it can be IF you forego resisting what is.

If you resist what is, you will increase your suffering. This is why acceptance is important here. You have to accept where you are, so you can figure out how to move forward. Without acceptance, you will stay stuck.

Without acceptance, you cannot get to the next stage because, in some way, you’ll keep hoping things will go back to the way they were. You are looking backwards, wishing for what was, instead of looking forward. And believe me, I understand how hard that shift can be to make.

If you’re feeling stuck or struggling to let go of the judgment you’re feeling, let’s talk. Schedule a complimentary call with me where we can discuss where you are and the specific steps you need to take to keep you moving forward. Click here to set up the call.

If you’re not quite ready for one-on-one support, then this free guide on Moving Through Change is a good resource to support you. Download it and work your way through it.

Whatever you decide, I’m here cheering you on through your messy middle.

From my heart to yours,