Thinking about making a big life change, like finding a new job, switching careers, moving across the country, or retiring? It's no small task! Here’s a useful tool to get you started.

First, set aside some dedicated time, even if it’s just an hour. Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. Write down your answers in a notebook or computer. This will be a great resource as you forge ahead.

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. What Big Life Change do I want to make?

Clearly indicate the change you are considering. For example, “I want to relocate,” “I want to find a new job,” “I want to change careers,” or “I want to retire.”

If you’re not sure exactly what you want to do, start with a feeling: “I want to feel more secure financially,” “I want to lead a more fulfilling life,” “I want to experience what it’s like living in a larger city,” etc.

2. Why do I want to make this change?

List all the reasons driving your desire for this change. Be honest and detailed:

“I want to move to be closer to friends or family.”

“I have always wanted to live near the ocean/mountains/lake.”

“I want to find a new job that is more fulfilling or challenging.”

“I want to make more money.”

“I don’t like my new boss.”

“I need a job near where I live.”

“I want to change to a career that gives me purpose and/or has better potential for advancement.”

“I want to retire so I can spend more time traveling, spend more time with my family, or check off things on my bucket list.”

3. When do I want to make this change?

Set a timeline for the change you want to make. For instance, “I want to find …

I am all over the place these days! I am having trouble focusing on the here and now? My brain is a bit foggy. I switch gears in the middle of doing one thing to do another. My physical well-being is on the fritz - I tested positive for COVID for the 1st time. I thought I was invincible - immune to COVID. Nope. My emotions are all over the place too. I am happy one minute and sad the next. There was a scene in a show I was watching that just did me in…I was sobbing. What the heck! Seriously!

The more my mental, physical, and emotional well-being goes astray, the more unfocused I become. I shared the fact that I tested positive for COVID with some very astute coaches. The key takeaway is that this downtime is a gift - everything I think I need to do can wait. It’s a time to be still, be aware, and watch for messages from the universe.

So that is what I’m doing. I am slowly becoming acutely aware of why I am unfocused, physically depleted, and emotionally drained.

First, I am grieving the loss of my parents - my father a few months ago and my mother six years ago. It comes out of nowhere. That’s the way grief works. My desire to talk to them is deep and profound.

Second, I am in transition. In fact, I have been in a constant state of change and transition for close to 10 months now including a relocation and a loss. I would normally be close to settled in my new life except for the fact that I plan to move again. I feel untethered, ungrounded, and exhausted…

I honestly…

The experience of change, good or bad, has repercussions. One change can set you on a new course and have so much meaning in your life. It can affect you in a myriad of ways - some of which you may not have thought of when the change occurred.

It’s the domino effect of a given change that can throw you off course. You start a new relationship but how is it affecting your other relationships? Are you ignoring other people or responsibilities? You get promoted at work but what about the person you replaced and whose shoes you have to fill? Will you have to work longer hours? What impact will this have on your co-workers? How will it affect your life outside of work? You were unexpectedly laid off and how will you pay the mortgage on the new house you just bought? How will this affect your partner or your family?

One thing to acknowledge is that you play a role in every change no matter whether you choose to make a change or a change is thrust upon you. Your reaction to change will vary and is dependent on many factors; the key ones being your previous experience with change, your current circumstances, and your willingness to embrace the unknown…

What happens when you have an elderly parent who needs 24/7 care? How do you help them adjust to a life full of change and transition?

I recently moved back to my hometown after living away for four decades. I did this for many reasons; participating in the care of my 98-year-old (now 99) father was a significant factor, along with a desire to be closer to family and to live in a smaller, more affordable city.

Not only did I move home but I moved in with my father. Living with my elderly father after living on my own for most of my life required some adjustment to say the least. And of course, this was a significant change for my father as well…

What I want to highlight here are the changes that my father is experiencing and their effect…

All of a sudden, you need more care. You need to depend on your family more than ever. You were always the one who took care of them and now your independence is almost completely gone. It’s challenging, demoralizing, and frustrating. The overriding thought is that you no longer feel useful…

So how do you help your parent maintain some independence and continue to feel useful?

The last two months of the year can be challenging. You already have a lot on your plate with all the NEW in your life - the new job, new home, new environment, new relationship status, new family member, new financial status, or new career - you get the picture. Then the holidays appear and that change takes on a whole new significance. The season can either be joyous or a big old mess or something in between.

Let’s face it. The holiday season comes with its own set of expectations. There is money to be spent, friends and relatives to see, events to attend, and food and drinks to consume. All of these things can be laden with stress and anxiety for starters, and then you throw in something new, and those emotions increase tenfold. You just moved and are feeling lonely, you just got divorced and miss the family you had, you recently lost a loved one and are grieving, you started a new job or career and are feeling the crunch of performing, or you just got laid off and are wondering how you can afford to buy gifts.

The holiday season is going to show up like clockwork every year whether we like it or not so here are a few recommendations to equip you with the goods to survive it all…

Are you an introvert? Introverts need plenty of alone time especially to recharge, listen more than talk, prefer one to one connections, are independent and are often deep thinkers that take the time to reflect on their experiences and emotions.

So what does being an introvert have to do with how you deal with change? Well, quite a lot, actually.

An introvert responds to change in a number of ways:

Resistance - they tend to relish stability and may initially resist change. They really need time to warm up to the idea.

Processing - they need time to think through the implications of a particular change…