A New Chapter - Being Ready!

I made the decision to become a life coach long before I started telling anyone about it. I had good reasons for keeping it to myself. I hadn't even begun my training. I needed to craft a business plan and hone in on how I could best be of service to my clients. I needed to know my plan was viable before announcing a big, and seemingly unexpected, career shift to the world. When the time finally came to share my vision with family and friends, I was braced for some interesting responses. And oh, they did not disappoint! 

It took a month for me to share the news with my 'inner circle' about starting a life coaching business. I am proud to have an eclectic group of friends and family and knew well that their reactions would be varied. True to form, the responses ranged from "That's SO perfectly you!" to a neutral "OK,"  to "Huh? Never heard of it," to "You're becoming a snake-oil salesman, I see."  None of it really surprised me, but I admit, I was deeply grateful for the couple of dear friends who immediately wanted to sign up as my first clients. The fact that I wasn't the least bit bothered by the less than positive responses, however, was an affirmation that I was on the right path. Fear of judgment wasn't holding me back. Fear of failing wasn't holding me back. Fear of change wasn't holding me back. I was nervous, but I was also ready and excited to take the plunge!​
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Readiness is a big life question for most of us at one time or another. Am I ready to get married? Am I ready to leave this job? Am I ready to be a parent? When we talk about being ready, often what we are really looking for is the reassurance that we will be OK, no matter what happens. So we prepare. We educate ourselves. We make contingency plans. But the fact of the matter always remains – we can never know the future with any certainty. Therefore, with any major life step we take, risk is involved. What, then, does it really mean to be ready for something?

​The answer to that question, of course, is different for everyone. There are some universal clues worth noting, however, in case they happen to pop up on your personal radar screen. The following list outlines five of those important signs. Feel free to share other signs of readiness in the comments section below!

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Five Signs That You Are Ready

​1.  All the hard work involved is exciting, not draining.
Sure, you will be tired, maybe even exhausted, from all the extra hours you are putting into planning, preparing, or cultivating something completely new and unfamiliar! That said, if you wake up in the morning feeling eager and excited to tackle the next step, that's a sure sign you're moving in the right direction. When you are emotionally ready for something new, it will feel surprisingly easy to find the energy and motivation to get the work done. Making your vision of the future a reality will naturally pull you forward, creating its own momentum.
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3.  You don't care what others think. 
Most people will consult with close friends and family members before taking a leap into the unknown. It is wise to remain open to the insights and perspectives of those you love and respect. After all, they care about you and know you well. Ultimately, however, you must be willing to march to the beat of your own drummer, regardless of what others think. No one else is living this life for you. No one else can truly know what is right for you. When you, as a result of deep self-trust and self-knowledge, can calmly take the judgments of others (either positive or negative) with a grain of salt, any fear you have about the unknown begins to melt away.

5.  Change needs to happen.  
Sometimes, keeping things as they are can be worse in the long run than facing the fear of the unknown. A big part of being ready to take any major life step is about your readiness to leave something behind more than being mentally or emotionally prepared for the something new. Growth happens when you are being stretched. Feelings of discontentment or restlessness are good signs that you've outgrown your current circumstances and that it is time to move forward into a new phase of growth and challenge.

​2.  The leap you are about to make aligns with your strengths, interests, and highest values.
The remarkable human spirit works on many levels. It can use negative emotions such as guilt and fear, coupled with physical symptoms of stress and anxiety, to bring your attention to the fact that something is out of alignment in your life. In the same way, when you do things that are in alignment with your best interests, your mind/body connection offers positive reenforcement through feelings of safety, fulfillment, peace and connectedness. As you ponder leaping into the unknown, carefully assess whether or not you are choosing to leap in a way that draws upon your personal strengths and nurtures your highest values. If the answer is a resounding 'Yes!', there is no time like the present for taking action.
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​4. The way forward seems clear. 
Don't let this statement confuse you. An obvious path toward your goals doesn't also guarantee an easy path. What it means is that you have an achievable goal in mind, you are able to see logical steps toward attaining that goal, the obstacles along the way are appropriate for whatever the challenge might be, and you have the right mental and emotional resources to learn and make adjustments along the way. Keeping the big picture in mind is important, but sometimes, it can also be overwhelming. If, in the face of a big life change, you are able to fully embrace the wisdom of the old saying, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,"  chances are good you are ready to take that step.

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As I wrap up this post, I invite you to take a moment to ask yourself an important question: If we can never be truly certain of the future, if we must rely only upon our best instincts and a little bit of faith, why do we continue to leap into the unknown? For my part, I think the answer is simple. We are gloriously curious creatures. We are also extremely resourceful, resilient, enterprising, hopeful, and optimistic. We are creative, innovative explorers! The traits that push us forward into the unknown are traits we have celebrated throughout all of human history. We are a race that comes equipped to face challenge. Indeed, many of our greatest achievements have come into being despite daunting odds. 

The next time you find yourself waiting to feel completely ready for whatever might be on the horizon, remember this: If you wait long enough to feel 100% ready for anything, you've waited far too long. Your human nature thrives on forward momentum. Be smart. Think carefully, plan ahead, gather your resources, and then make the leap saying to yourself, "Ready or not, here I come!"
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