What's Your Map for Change?

My map for making a midlife change.

If you’re looking for a new direction in life and work then you need a map.

But not any ordinary map.

It’s not a map that’s laid out in front of you.

It’s a map that you lay out inside you.

This is the kind of map you need to navigate the messy transition from meh to meaning.

It’s an emergent process guided by your internal compass and an external community.

It’s an iterative journey with no single destination but if you follow this map you’ll get to where you need to be.

Motivation

- Intrinsic
- Extrinsic

Agency

- Mindset
- Skillset

Peace

- Acceptance
- Community

M for MOTIVATION

Intrinsic Motivation
You need intrinsic motivation, a drive to change yourself and clarity about what is driving this change. You have core needs that haven’t been met and values that you really wish to live.

Extrinsic Motivation
You need extrinsic motivation, a drive to change the world. There are people you want to help and situations you want to change. You feel the pain and suffering of others and you have a deep need to contribute to making their lives better.

A for AGENCY

Agency via Mindset
You need to overcome the internal barriers that hold you back. You have limiting beliefs and self-critical biases that cause you hesitate and procrastinate. You have lack of clarity of what’s possible and lack a vision of success for yourself. You need to give yourself permission to get what you want even though you don’t quite what that is yet. But you need to act.

Agency via Skillset
Once you pick a new path there will be new skills that you need to learn. Maybe you’ve never worked for yourself before or maybe you’ve never worked closely with others before. There are new ways of doing as well as new ways of being that you’re needing to learn. Find teachers, absorb knowledge and put that learning into practise, don’t just store data.

P for PEACE

Acceptance of What Is
You need acceptance. You need to accept that you don’t know what the future holds and whether you’ll achieve your goals. You’ve got to accept where you are now and how you got here. You’ve got to accept yourself for who you are and why you are the way you are. You’ve got to accept that you are enough as you are and give yourself permission to be more.

Safety in Community
You need to surround yourself with people that see you and hear you. You need to find people who understand what’s driving you (this inner call to change) and won’t criticise you for wanting more or tell you what you should want (or do). They’ll hold you and help you when you need it. They’ll make you feel safe and that you belong. They’ll be there when you need them and you’ll feel valued because they’ll need you. In the chaos of change they’ll keep you connected and feeling safe.

How are you tackling change?

Do you have a map?

How are you cultivating motivation, agency and peace on your journey of change?