Before we change anything in our lives, we need to clarify whether we are aiming for the right targets. We need to consider how the new changes will fit into our lives and work towards an image of who we would like to become in the future. In the long term, changes to our beliefs, perceptions and behaviours, and hence improvements in our financial position career and lifestyle will not stick unless they are congruent with these images of ourselves.

There is a significant overlap between different areas of our lives, and while we may think that our relationships or leisure time are completely separate from our career or our finances, a change that we make in one will affect the others for better or worse. Every action has a consequence, and that consequence may reach further than we had originally anticipated. If you foresee that a positive change in one area of your life will cause other areas of your life to suffer, you will have to weigh up what is most important. Every success has a price and only you can decide if you are willing to pay it.

An internal values check is where you consider a course of action and how you feel about the consequences it may have. When you think about what you want in your life, it is very important to listen to your intuition. If there is no harmony between your intuition and your actions, it may mean that you are acting on the wrong principles or that you are chasing the wrong goals.

In addition to your personal values check, it is a good idea to examine how your change will affect the significant people in your life. For you to enjoy your achievements, you may want to give consideration to how your loved ones will feel, so that your valuable relationships do not suffer as a consequence. On the other hand, there may be times when you feel compelled to make changes in your life regardless of what other people think. Even at these times, it is still important to consider how they might react so that you can prepare for them in advance.

Once you feel secure about a new decision, and you have weighed up what it will cost you in terms of time, resources and relationships, only then are you ready to go for the goal.

The internal values check
Before you embark on any significant change, run it past your values. Ask yourself:

• What might be the upside consequences of my actions?
• What might be the downside consequences of my actions?
• What extra will I have do to achieve my goal?
• How much will it cost in terms of time and resources?
• Is it worth the price?
• What do I like about my current situation?
• How can I keep the aspects of my life that I like while I make the change?

The relationships check
Make sure you consider how any changes will affect your loved ones. Ask yourself:

• How will this change affect my loved ones?
• Does it go against any of their values?
• How will they react?

Comments are closed.