We often find ourselves stuck in our comfort zones because we're afraid to face the discomfort associated with big changes. Those challenges? They're just what's blocking your path to all the possibilities waiting on the other side.
How Obstacles Show Up
There could be a number of obstacles standing in the way of you and actualizing your goal. If you were wanting to change your career, some of your challenges could look like:
- The daunting thought of going back to school
- Putting in extra hours outside of our regular work routine to search for position openings
- Brushing up resumes
- The dreaded task of networking events and interviewing.
It might mean having those tough conversations with your boss or pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. And let's not forget the financial adjustments you may have to make or that nagging feeling of not being good enough. Change? Yeah, it's tough. But here's the deal: sure, it's gonna be uncomfortable, there might even be some tears shed along the way. But if your purpose is stronger than the fear of "what if" you have what it takes to tackle the challenge.
Often, our fear of the discomfort is way bigger and scarier than the actual execution of it. That is where this tool can help. It allows you to identify the barriers standing in the way of you actualizing your goals (we call these blocks) and guides you to set small action steps to address each block. These goals are realistically paced so that you can actually see a path forward. If you don't know how to get from point A to point B, this can help you discover the small steps it takes to break a big scary change into a feasible game plan.
How to Use This Tool IRL
Download the printable guide attached at the bottom of this page for a reusable framework to support your process.
1. Reflect on what you want to achieve in life or who you want to become. Answering the question, “What do I want out of life?” could involve considering what you want from this next season, where you see yourself going, or in a broader sense, who you aspire to be. The answer to this question serves as your north star. Below are examples of answers to these questions to help you.
Example:
What do I want out of life? "To work in a job that feels fulfilling. I want to travel for work and see more while I am still young."
2. Examine why you haven't yet achieved this goal. There could be several reasons, such as fear, lack of resources, responsibilities, relationships, etc. Write down what feels intimidating or what you haven’t voiced before.
Example:
What is keeping me from achieving this?
I am afraid of all the changes that will come with changing my job. It feels overwhelming and too big for me to handle.
3. Break obstacles down into smaller, more manageable obstacles, which we will call "blocks." Blocks are the practical hurdles you need to overcome to achieve your ultimate goal. Identifying specific fears or blocks helps to clarify your path and enables you to devise practical steps to address or mitigate these issues.
Example:
- Block: This new position that allows me to travel doesn’t include health insurance.
- Block: I will have to live on my own for the first time ever.
- Block: I am afraid that my family will be disappointed in me.
4. Create a game plan for each block. These are actionable steps you will follow to address or reduce the impact of each block. A well-defined game plan helps clarify the path to the life you want and strategizes how to overcome fears and challenges associated with significant changes.
Example:
- Block: This new position that allows me to travel doesn’t include health insurance.
- Tomorrow: Research various options for self-supported health insurance, compare rates, and determine the best plan for me.
- This Week: Review my budget and spending based on the information from my research to ensure I can afford health insurance. If not, explore opportunities to cut spending or costs.
- This Month: Enroll in a health insurance plan to ensure coverage doesn’t lapse when I change jobs.
- This Year: Assess whether having a job with self-supported health insurance is worthwhile. Consider if I want to work for a company that provides benefits.
See how this approach helps you turn a vague fear into concrete solutions? This tool doesn’t guarantee that no surprises will arise or that everything will go as planned, but it does enhance your ability to tackle challenges and move closer to achieving your ultimate goal.
For more like this, check out The Eisenhower Matrix, a tool to help you with time management.
