6. 90% have the gremlins show up three months into the change process

When making any kind of significant change in your life you can almost bet that about three months into the process your gremlins will emerge with a vengeance. These are the voices in your head that tell you:

• This is stupid, or too risky
• I won’t be able to do this
• What was I thinking of?
• I was never able to do this before why should I think I can do it now?
• I am not getting anywhere

This happens because it feels like the change is not happening quickly enough or because the initial euphoria of commitment has worn off. This is perfectly natural phenomenon and happens with great predictability. But if you are not ready for it, or if you lack the skills or support you need to navigate through this difficult period, you can easily be derailed.

7. At least 20% of people “go dark” during some part of the change process

Making significant changes in your life is a process. Some people navigate right from an old “stuck” phase into a new “go for it” phase where they can set new goals and make new commitments. Others require an intervening “cocooning” phase where they “go dark” and turn inward to tap into their core beliefs and values before they are ready to tackle anything new. Sometimes it is during this dark phase that old hurts from the past must be resolved or crippling emotional reactions must be dealt with. It is only after passing through this dark and quiet time that they are ready to move back into the light and complete the change process.

The Bottom Line

There is no right or wrong in navigating the process of change. Each person has their own unique needs and pace in the process. I offer the above observations only to provide a window into the variety and the commonality of what can occur when you embark on the path of change.

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