The Change Strategist…?  What do you do?

In fact, that is precisely the question I was hoping for as I established ‘The Change Strategist’ as my occupational title when I founded Drop in the Pond.

One of the greatest differences between my approach and what some people may have experienced in the past with a therapeutic process or coaching, is that first and foremost I don’t believe that change always has to take a long time, or that it always has to be difficult and painful .

If you know me, or if you have heard me speak, you may have heard me say that my absolute favourite thing to do is to help people slow down just long enough so that you can discover where you are unfulfilled or where you may be settling in your life.  And then what I do is explore with questions and experiential processes to discover those sought after A-HA moments that begin to reshape your reality.

More specifically what I do is I meet with people one on one, and through conversation we develop some commonalities and understanding about the types of things I am paying attention to. By adding options and perspectives to the way you see and feel things leading up to this moment, you automatically begin to have different reactions and responses from now on. They say knowledge is power ~ wisdom is integrated knowledge that actually changes your world.

When I talk about experiential processes, what I am referring to is that we don’t just think with our brains.

The ‘thinking’ process actually happens in other parts of our bodies - and you know this when you get a ‘gut feeling’ about something or when your chest tightens if you are anxious.

It is why unconscious body language exists! Your body unconsciously contributes to the things you think - and this becomes a part of the programs you run.  Within what you ‘experience’ both in your mind with the thoughts you have and the indicators your body gives you, we find valuable information.

You see, I know that we all have a history - a detailed past that for some is very troubling and even horrific.  Others look back and think that the have coasted along through life without much problem or too many eventful situations.  Either way, we have learned how to do what we are doing (consciously or otherwise) and you may have finally decided that you aren’t happy or that you aren’t quite where you want to be in life and maybe you even have something specific that you want to change or do differently.

My approach is to explore where your barriers are - what fears are holding you back, how do you self-sabotage?  When you find yourself upset and angry, what are the values that you are unconsciously defending and how can you incorporate them to come to a resolution that maintains your own personal strength and integrity?

One of the things that people really appreciate about working with me is that I don’t actually need to hear about the context of what you are going through.  That is to say, I don’t need all the details of your story in order to be effective.  It can be very comforting for a perspective client to know that you and I do not have to dig up all of the past in order for you to move forward today.

The reason for this is that I pay attention to the structure of the ‘issues’ you come into my office with now.  I pay attention to HOW you are doing what you do and to what supports the pattern of behaviour or thinking, in order for it to remain.  When we discover the unconscious or subconscious (however you think about it) programs and patterns that are in play, we can then insert options and other possibilities which impact your results.  And when we make shifts in the structure of the problem, you don’t have to consciously "remember to be different" - you simply operate from a new pattern - a new way of being that supports how you want to live your life.

Oftentimes it is relationship challenges that bring people to my office.  Other times it is a particular problem at work - and a lot of the time there are overlaps.  We notice our limitations and the walls we hit in both personal and professional aspects of our lives.  Here are just a couple that I notice on a daily basis.

In your personal life do you find you are:

• Concerned about what other people think or say about you?
• Putting yourself second, third or more commonly, LAST?
• Unhappy with your physical health and yet not doing anything about it?
• Judgemental towards others and their choices?
• Stuck in an unpleasant mood or emotion such as irritation, shame, guilt, grief, jealousy, hurt, or loneliness?
• Uncomfortable talking to new people or asking for help?
• Often blaming the situation, other people or your ‘bad luck’ for what goes wrong?
• Wishing and hoping for things to be different?

In your professional life is it familiar for you to:

• Be nervous when asked to speak to a group?
• Procrastinate and put off tasks?
• Second guess or doubt your decisions and abilities?
• Hesitate or not ask for assistance because it might not "look good"?
• Get frustrated and feel dumped on?
• Feel upset when someone else seems to be on a power trip?
• Wish you had more confidence and self esteem?
• Look down on other people and compare yourself?

My philosophy is that as humans, it is our responsibility to seek the help we need when you need it.  Fundamentally, life is meant to be peaceful, enjoyable, rewarding, fun, connected and fulfilling among many other wonderful things.  If yours is not, let me help you discover a map to live your best life NOW.