Vol 4 Iss 3

Have you ever been frustrated that the knowledge you have is incomplete? You know just enough to know you don’t know enough. That’s how I feel right now. I’m sitting in a coffee house in Lafayette, Louisiana frustrated because I can’t get connected properly to the Internet. That means this issue will be published a little later than I planned, and my e-mail in-box will have to wait a little longer. As they say here in South Louisiana: ces’t la vie!

I’ve been here a week visiting my 88-year-old Mom who has more energy than anyone would expect from a woman her age. She has a wicked sense of humor and a slicing streak of competitiveness. It’s a total blast. Plus the weather has been absolutely beautiful.

Speaking of sunny weather, I learned something today about my sunglasses. Read the article below to see my discovery and how it applies to a career change. And speaking of career change, I can help you with that. Give me a call!

I learned something new about my sunglasses this week: when I’m wearing them, I can’t read my phone. There must be something about the polarized lenses that doesn’t let the display from the phone through. Isn’t it interesting that bending the light just so causes blindness?

This is not the only case of blindness that I have ever had. One day on the bus a voice from behind me asked what street we just crossed. I named it for her and told her in my prissiest teacher voice that the street signs are to the right and easy to see. Then turned around and saw the white cane and Braille book on her lap. Mmmm. Who’s blind?

In both cases, I believed one thing but reality was something different. I believed I could see the time on my phone display, but the sunglasses filter said it wasn’t there. Another time, I believed if you just observe you can see the street signs, but her eyes don’t work like mine. I acted according to my beliefs and not reality.

What do you believe about changing careers? Not what you say you believe – what you really believe. Beliefs are what you say to yourself when things don’t go right. If you believe it’s hard, or that you’re too old, or too young, or not experienced enough, or your mortgage is too high, or you need to know how to juggle while standing on your head – you’re going to act accordingly. When you interview for a job, you’ll pontificate saying “in MY day…” confirming you’re too old. Or, worse, hold back from even applying because you believe it’s not worth your time.

Are you seeing what’s true, or what’s coming through the (sunglasses) filter of your beliefs? Here are a few ideas to help you make a conscious effort to shift your beliefs.

~ Come up with a metaphor of what’s happening, and use it to look from a different direction. If you feel like getting into your chosen field is like hitting a brick wall, think of ways to get around a wall – dig under it, fly over it, chisel through it… As you play with the metaphor, your imagination will spark and a different approach will appear.

~ Ask those who have gone before you and succeeded what their beliefs are. It make take a little more effort since the ones who tried and failed are always ready to share, but you already know how they think. The one who made it will have a different story to tell.

~ Ask your heart what’s true. You can do this by journaling using the Right Hand/Left Hand technique. Use your dominant (usually right) hand to write out a question, then the non-dominant (usually left) hand to write the answer. This bypasses your brain, and yes, you will be able to read it later. See? Another belief shattered!

~ Put some space between observation and action. Acting impulsively can get in your way. Give yourself time before acting on your initial impression.

By examining and shifting beliefs, you see reality in a whole new way. Possibilities sprout where there was once dry ground. When you begin to see things differently, you act differently. Sort of like taking off those sunglasses!

You are free to use material from Moving Forward! in whole or in part, as long as you include complete attribution, including a live web site link. Please also notify me where the material will appear. The attribution should read:

"By Debra DeVilbiss, CPCC, of Forward Momentum, LLC. Please visit Debra's website at http://www.ForwardMomentum.com for additional articles and resources on creating your right livelihood."

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