You know you don’t want to keep on doing what you’re doing, but the idea of changing your career and your lifestyle seems like a unrealistic reality. A dream, not something for you. You live in reality with bills and responsibilities. It would be careless and irresponsible to start changing things in your life. But how you wish you could. You know there is something else out there for you, something just for you, and it makes you a bit sad to think you won’t get to experience that in your life.
If you relate to this, then you are most definitely not alone.
The problem is, the idea of making these changes seems almost impossible. You have spent the last 10 or so years working towards where you are, and to make a change would mean; starting at the bottom, taking a pay cut, being vulnerable again, having to learn all over again, and by the time you have gone through this list, you just think; forget it, that is WAY to much.
And I get you. That list would make me want to wave the white flag.
People want the change to happen instantaneously. If they can’t make the shift quickly, then they often don’t want it at all. People daydream about making a change, realise it’s too hard and then stop thinking about it. They don’t give the idea a chance to breath, to even consider the options before shutting it down. How often have you heard people saying; ‘that’s just a pipedream’, or ‘in another life, maybe’
But this is the wrong attitude. You need to give yourself time.
Do the maths:
If you have 20 years left of your career. What if you gave yourself 3 years to make the change. That would still leave you with 17 years of doing something you really love. 17 years! That is a really long time.
Most people don’t look at it this way though. They get caught up in the now, and what is happening in the moment. But just slow down. Look at your life, where you’ve come from, all you achieved already, and think about where you want to end. What does your future look like? What do you really want to have experienced in your life? What impact do you want to have? Isn’t 3 years worth it.
So if you want to live out an amazing 17 years start making the change. Write down where you want to be and by when. And remember, the plan doesn’t have to be perfect, just start experimenting. As time goes on, you will learn more and the plan will change and htat is ok. It is about having a rough goal that you are aiming towards. Waiting for perfection is the kller of getting in motion.
Have fun with it. Once you know where you would like to be, think of the first smallest step you can take to start you on this journey. It doesn’t matter how small the step is, just take it! And once you’ve completed that step, take another, and another. You will be amazed by how much you can achieve in a year if you keep taking small steps.
Keep the commitment and make the change!
