Without change, things stay the same and ultimately stagnate or die!

• You have bad habits - we are often our own worst enemy when it comes to change.
• Too comfortable - we can become too comfortable with our surroundings and circumstances and the thought of changing makes us uncomfortable. This creates short-term thinking.
• The unknown is scary - perhaps you've tried to change before and failed, so the idea of repeating mistakes paralyzes you with fear.
• You don't have a clear vision - knowing you need to change, but not knowing where, what, or how to change.
• No why? Or know why? - what's your why? Why do you get up every day and do what you do? Either you don't have a why or you don't know what it is.
• You're not accountable - when you change things in your life, it can influence other people close to you, but ultimately you are accountable to yourself first. You may not be willing to accept that responsibility.

As you read through the reasons for struggling, you may have identified with one or more of these. Acknowledging that the struggle exists for you and identifying the reasons will help you overcome the obstacles in your path toward change. The path to change looks like this...

• We can't manage change until we can accept that it's needed. That's why acknowledging the struggle and discovering the reasons behind the struggle are the first step in the path to change.
• For those who are comfortable in your surroundings, the challenge is to step out of your comfort zone by trying something new. If you begin to realize that there is more to offer outside the zone, you may begin to become uncomfortable with how things are inside your comfort zone. At this point, when you begin to experience discomfort with how things are, you are on your way to positive change.
• It is easy to understand that change for many is scary. You must find within yourself the courage to face your fear and eliminate it. When we see change as scary, it is disruptive to us. If you develop the mindset to welcome change, you will begin making the change you want to see. You must change to experience the opportunity that is awaiting on the other side of your fear.
• Finding your motivation will help you address your vision, or lack thereof, as well as discovering your why. What lights you up and makes you want to get off your seat and on your feet? What makes you want to soar to new heights and greater opportunities? Find the source of your motivation and use it regularly.
• If you are not accountable to yourself or others, you must become part of the change. Mahatma Gandhi famously said, "Be the change that you wish to see in the world." While so true and inspirational, I think you must first be and create the change within your own world (your life and work) that you wish to see. This is your path to accountable change.

Be flexible in embracing change. If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude about it! Try adopting an attitude of anticipation and excitement. See change as an opportunity. When you are going through a period of change, discomfort will be inevitable. What dictates if we change is our ability to move through the discomfort. Changes in life involve discomfort and uncertainty. Embrace the discomfort. See it as a positive symptom that something is changing. Be patient with yourself during change, understanding that you need time to emotionally transition in response to an event. Through embracing this you will navigate the event, the change, and the emotional transition required.