There are several types of change. Each one of them helps will you.

Some types of change are the sort we look forward to with pleasure, such as going on holiday.

 Other types fill us with anxiety, such as the need to pass our driving test.

But they all have one thing in common – they strengthen us. Here are some of the benefits

Change takes us out of rut, and can even be exciting. It requires us to adopt new behaviours or learn new skills. Technology keeps changing, and thus people’s actions do as well. When Covid swept the world, people got used to remote meetings using Zoom or Teams.

If your life is unsatisfactory, change will ensure it doesn’t last forever. You won’t stay unfulfilled or unhappy. Change can help you. Sometimes it’s a matter of moving on or moving forward.

Change helps us focus. It tells us what is wrong with some aspect of our life, and makes us think about how to fix it.

The big change in your life becomes a turning point. You can look back, see what you did, and reflect that although the change was difficult, you achieved it, and your life is better now.

The two main types of change

There are two main types of change: voluntary and enforced. Voluntary changes are the ones you initiate, while Enforced change is what someone else does that then affects you.

Voluntary change is affected by a variety of factors: the number of people involved, the costs of change, the time needed, and the number of steps involved.

The number of people involved

Let’s start with the number of people. The more people affected by your change, the more complex the change and the longer it takes to implement:

• Only you (change your hairstyle)
• You and your partner (a decision to get married)
• You, your partner and your children (moving house)
• You and outside experts (a lawyer or a web designer)

The costs involved

Cost is also a factor The higher the cost, the more challenging it is to make the decision.

• Little or no cost (a changed hairstyle)
• Moderate cost (setting up a side gig)
• Massive cost (becoming a commercial property developer)

Time needed to complete the change

And then there’s the time taken to make the change. The longer the time frame to reach the outcome, the more likely you are to avoid making a decision.

• Instant (give up alcohol)
• A few weeks (change your diet)
• A year or more (writing a book)

Number of steps involved

Some changes require more steps than others. The more steps, the harder it is to be decisive.

Only one step (break up by email)

Very few steps (enrol on an online course)

Many separate steps (change your job)

Enforced Change

There are two types of enforced change:

Change we can do something about. Car breakdown. Redundancy. Your lover walks out.

Change we have no control over. War in a foreign country. Death of a loved one.

This is known as the ‘Circles of Control’. We talk about this later in the book. But in a nutshell, there is no point in focussing on things that you have no control over. It’s wasted energy.

Do you want help with achieving change in your life? We have a coaching programme that could help you. Learn more.