(Here’s an article of great value to small business owners, www.GBN-Online.com)

To Know or Not to Know
Clients often come to me in the state of panic: “I want to
make a change, but don’t know how to do it!” I instantly
quiet them down with a question: “Is it OK not to know?”
It never occurred to them that when they are in a state of
transition, conflict, or growth it is simply ‘OK’ not to
know what their next move will be.

‘Not knowing’ your next move is something to celebrate as
it opens up a multitude of possibilities. We often react
to new situations based on how we’ve handled similar past
scenarios, irrespective of whether our past actions
provided our desired results.

This repetitive behavior is the definition of insanity -
doing the same thing over and over again and expecting
different results.

Here are a few statements that have helped my clients
moving forward. “I want a change and don’t know what it is
at this moment.” “I want more balance, though I don’t
exactly know what that looks like at this moment.” “I want
a more loving relationship with my spouse, even though I
don’t know how to get there just yet.”

This is an excellent beginning. In asking these questions,
we enter into new experiences based on what we want, not
what we’ve had. We open up to new possibilities. Let’s
explore just one of the above examples.

“I want more balance, though I don’t exactly know what that
looks like at this moment.”

Clients share that balance typically means exercise to
them. A typical challenge is this: they used to run or
play basketball, but their joints will no longer support
these activities so now they are lost.

Somewhere in the depths of their minds we discover a belief
that if they don’t exercise the way they used to, they’re
not exercising at all. Stating “I don’t know what comes
next” relaxes them. They can now contemplate other options
without the heaviness of ‘having to know.’

Perhaps they decide to take a month or two to decide. Is
it yoga? Go to a few different yoga classes to see if
there is a fit? Perhaps it is Pilates, skiing, swimming,
meditative walking? Not knowing the answer immediately
allows freedom to explore options and come up with more
desirable results that will fit the new you, not the old
you.

This week, explore assumptions in the depths of your mind.
What options open up to you if you simply give yourself
permission to ‘not know?’ Enjoy your discoveries and have a
grand week.

—————————————————-
For the sake of keeping your career fresh and on track,
would you like to enjoy a weekly shot-in-the-arm from
Master Certified Coach Ann Golden Eglé? You can sign
up for her Success Thought of the Week at
http://www.gvsuccesscoaching.com .

This entry was posted on Monday, July 21st, 2008 at 2:54 pm and is filed under Small business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.