While I may not know how to solve problems like ending world hunger or creating world peace, one thing I DO know is that I tend to make major changes all at once. This may not seem like the sanest strategy around (sometimes it’s really not!), since it can wreak havoc on your sanity and your relationships.  Nonetheless, it’s been my pattern. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I experienced a lot of changes in my childhood (five elementary schools in six years). Or perhaps I love me some drama (I’ve been accused of that more than once). At the very least, I think it has a LOT to do with two things: motivation and momentum.

Let me start with the biggest change I have going on right now: moving to California.  Before the move can take place, we need to sell our home. So that we could sell our home, we invested time and money in stripping wall paper, repainting, and other necessities. Because the housing market is, shall we say, less than stellar, we knew our patience would be tried. We just didn’t know how long it’d be tried (so far it’s been 6 months). So, we continue to keep our house super clean so a real estate agent can show it on a moment’s notice. We’re not moving until we sell our home, and we don’t know when that will be. So yes, we’re moving, but we don’t know when. We’re in an interesting place: limbo. We know that, in a heartbeat, someone will buy our home and we’ll be in for a whole lot of work as we move two states away. So this change is like one gigantic transition. For someone who likes to know how things will turn out, let’s just say I’m being tested!

Another major change is that I’ve made the committment to get healthy. It’s long bothered me that I struggle with my weight. As a mom of two girls, I didn’t like what I was modeling for them: sugar addiction and being overweight. I also had some fears of my health failing and not being around to see them grow up. I don’t know what finally clicked with me (since goodness knows I’ve had this monkey on my back and have been fretting about it for years), but something did, and I decided that I was D-O-N-E being overweight. And “done” is really the best word for it. I’m done. Finished. Through. So far, I’ve lost 25 pounds and have been working out on the eliptical machine at least 4 times per week (sometimes more).  What’s really weird, but in a good sort of way, is that even though I am often stressed with all the changes in my life and sometimes think about eating cookies or cake to pacify myself, I know in my bones that I’m not going to do it. I am committed to being healthy, feeling better, looking better, and modeling healthy behaviors for my girls. What’s really weird is that my moving out of state prompted me to think about my life in new ways. I started asking myself questions like, “Moving back to California has been a dream of mine for a long time…hmmm..what else has been a dream of mine? What else can I do that would help me really live on purpose?” It didn’t take long for me to figure out that moving to a new state and city is a chance to start over. I love fresh beginnings! Being closer to family and in a sunny climate needed to be a part of my “True North” experiences: those things that I just knew in my heart I needed to do. Losing weight and getting healthy seemed to go right along with them.

Which leads me to my last big change: my business. When I made the switch from being a teacher to a parent coach five years ago, I knew I was on track (the way you “just know” in your heart about many things) to begin my next step. I’m so glad I did that because I am passionate about supporting moms. I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing: helping moms get unstressed and overwhelmed, overcome guilt, and enjoy life.  However, over the years, I’ve gotten clearer on a few things. First, while one on one coaching is very powerful, it can’t be the only thing I offer. Not everyone is ready for that level of intimacy. Plus, I can only work with so many one on one clients at a time. Second, the teacher in me wants needs to come out to play. I love sharing information and helping people learn new ideas and strategies, especially in a group. Third, the work I do with moms is so important to me that I want it to be more far-reaching. So, to honor this clarity and to keep living my life on purpose, I am changing how I offer what I do. This means that I will lead more teleclasses and groups. It means I’ll blog more frequently. It means I’ll be starting a BlogTalkRadio show. It really means streamlining and simplifying. You may notice that my blog has changed (it’s still a work in progress right now so pardon the dust). The header’s gone. There aren’t so many things on the home page vying for your attention (you have enough going on in your own life vying for your attention, right?!). I have a new audio an Quick Start Guide on  “How To Get Your Kids To Listen And Do What You Say” because when I polled my subscribers, they said that along with parenting a strong-willed child, this was a major hot button for them. I’ll still be offering one on one coaching but will change how I do it a bit. I even have a new Coaching Club I’ll be starting up (more on that in the future).

In the meantime, I’m doing what I usually do, which is making several changes at once. Yeah, sometimes I get pretty overwhelmed and want to run away to the Bahamas. However, I’m also excited about the life I’m creating. I don’t always know what’s coming next, but then again, did I ever really? Every pound I lose or every workout I do inspires me to keep the faith about my house selling and about all the changes I’m making in my business. I’m scared, excited, nervous and overwhelmed.

I’m also pretty darned grateful to be on this path of creating the life I’ve been wanting but have been too afraid to do anything about. And so I continue to act in spite of the fear, because woven into the fear is the excitement of possibility.

Change is like that, don’t you think?