The Master of Uncomfortable

Change. It’s a force that is coming at you - ready or not. Are you ready? It can be a welcomed and ready change.

I like to think of this change as a slow Saturday morning, watching the snow fall from the warmth of your home.  Or is it a sudden, rapidly moving target you were unprepared for, like driving through a blizzard when the heat goes out, and your phone dies? 

“Why me? Why now?” Take a breath. The difference in these changes is just the levels of comfortability.

I like to think of change as the master of uncomfortable. Welcomed or not, change gets us out of our comfort zone, and we need to be ready.

Here are some ideas for the new year to help get you ready for whatever changes life will welcome or throw at you:

1.     Accept no closure

Sometimes, we think we have handled a situation, and it feels good. However, having the mindset that the new situation could change again could help you not feel blindsided if a change comes along.

2.     Stick to your goals

There is a period of time during each goal accomplishment timeline when motivation is at its lowest, usually between halfway and ¾ of the way to the finish line.  Find a way to push through the lack of motivation. That last quarter is typically the most gratifying!

3.     Pause

Welcomed or unwelcomed, change can bring circumstances and feelings that are uncomfortable. Practice pausing to reassess the goal, tweak if you need to, and do not restart until you are in sync with the goal again.

4.     Plan, but be flexible

Plan your goal with checkpoints in your timeline on how you want to accomplish the final result. In the same breath, FLOW through the unknown factors thrown into the mix. Sickness, loved ones’ changes, world changes, mood, and the list goes on, are all factors that can sideswipe your end goal timeline. Don’t beat yourself up.

5.     Laugh it off

You know how often I have found myself saying, “well, that didn’t work”. I have been angry, sad, embarrassed, hurt, passive; you name it. Transforming to laughing it off can speed up the timeline for the accomplishment, trust me, I’ve tested this.  

A career change can be one of the most stressful changes we move through as humans. You can apply these mindsets to prepping for a career change (welcomed or unwelcomed!). If you want to chat with me about your goals, personal or professional- sign up for a coaching session at The Career Human!

Crush your goals, and have a great 2023!

Ashley Batteen graduated from Michigan State University in 2008, with degrees in Psychology and Spanish. She then went on to earn a Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Her first post-graduation job hunt in 2008 was during the Great Recession, and this proved to be challenging.  After having learned so much about job hunting in a tight job market, she was inspired to pass this knowledge on to other people. Since 2008, Ashley has worked with employers, hiring managers, and candidates from all different walks of life, developing career strategies and personal brands. She is a certified career coach and is passionate about seeing people realize their goals for their employment. She has 15+ years of experience in career development, organizational development, equity and inclusion, and strategic planning. Take the career development journey with her to build your career strategy and plan. 

You find more information about her in the MSU Alumni Office’s Career Coach Directory.