How to Know When It's Time to Make a Change: Signs It's Time to Start Over

I'm your host, Kevin Lowe, and I'm excited to welcome you inside.

What's going on and welcome back to Grit, Grace, and Inspiration.

This is episode number 196.

In case you are new here, well, welcome to the show.

If you're an old timer, welcome back.

My name is Kevin Lowe, your host as well as transformation coach.

I don't know about you, but in my life, I can see how I've been through different seasons, different chapters, different parts of my life.

And well, some of them were better than others, but all of them had a point where you have to make a choice.

You have to make a decision.

Do you keep on course with where you're going?

Or do you make a change?

Do you make a choice?

Do you do the hard thing?

Because while staying the same, that's easy.

But is that always really in our best interest?

Probably not.

But making a change is tough.

And even tougher than making the change is knowing if you should make the change.

Because, well, sometimes we just wish we could have that magic ball, that thing to tell us, are we making the right choice?

Should we leave this job?

Should we pursue a new relationship?

Should we make a big move in our life?

And the truth of the matter is that we don't have that magic ball and we hate it because we don't know.

We're so scared.

We're so worried.

What if I make the wrong choice?

What then?

Well, I can tell you this much that this life, it's full of choices.

Good choices and those quote unquote bad choices.

But when we really look at it from a big picture, they're all just choices.

There's not one that's really any better or worse than another.

They're all just choices that we make.

Now, yeah, some choices have consequences.

Doesn't that sound like something your mom would say?

Your choices have consequences, Kevin, but they have results.

Different things happen based on the choices we make.

But we should never let the fear of bad results stop us from making a change in life.

Because I can tell you one thing that is detrimental to your life is that is staying the same in a situation that you do not like, that does not serve you, that does not make you a better version of you.

Because I don't care how old you are, I don't care how far along in your journey of life you are, you should constantly be looking to grow and develop and become a better version of you.

And sometimes to do that, you have to make a change.

But the question remains but how do I know when I should make a change?

How do I know that this is right for me?

How do I know that this is the right thing to do?

Well, that's what today's episode is all about is helping you to figure out is it time for you to make a change?

Or is it time for you to stay the same?

Now, there is something extra special about today's episode, and that is I have an invitation.

Yes, like a birthday party invitation with party favors and toys and all of that.

Well, maybe not toys, but you know, you know what I'm saying.

I'm going to be inviting you to something really big.

A free event happening in July.

Yes, you've heard of July 4th.

You've heard of Christmas in July.

But baby, have you heard of Blossom and a Rise in July?

Woo, baby.

If not, well, today you're gonna hear all about it.

So stay tuned as I will give you more details on how you can be a part of Blossom and Arise later on in today's episode.

As well, it plays in perfectly with what I'm talking about.

So, with that said, let's dive into today's episode.

So the question is, how do you know when it's time to make a change?

How do you know it in your heart and your mind?

Well, it all starts with awareness.

When's the last time that you really paid attention to the way you were feeling?

You didn't just discount the fact that you can't sleep at night.

You didn't just shrug your shoulders, the fact that you've been feeling more stressed out than normal.

Have you really paid attention to how you're doing, how you're feeling?

Because those emotions, those thoughts, those feelings, they all are telling you something.

Because if you find yourself restless, disconnected, stressed out, all in regards to a current situation, well, it might be telling you something.

Maybe your body's trying to tell you something.

Or maybe even we don't have to think of sleepless nights or stress headaches, but maybe do you find yourself daydreaming a little bit more than usual when you should be focused on the task at hand, the job you're at, you're dreaming about a different career or something else to be doing in life.

And well, a lot of times, those daydreams, those really sometimes reveal a lot to us.

We tend to throw them away.

We tend to think of them as just things for children.

But I'm here to tell you that inside of those daydreams, the stuff that you dream about when you're doing the thing that you should be enjoying, well, I think they hold a lot of truth.

A lot of truth in what you really want out of life and what you should really have in your life.

It's so easy for us to look to the outside world for answers.

We all go seeking advice from others, but a lot of time, most of the time, if not all the time, the answer is inside of us because we know us better than anybody else.

So sometimes we need to trust our own intuition.

Sometimes we need to listen to that voice.

Sometimes we need to follow those dreams.

Being aware of what you are feeling, how you are feeling, what you are dreaming, that is the first step in you being able to figure out if making a change is the right thing for you.

Now, the next step in this process builds on awareness, and that is reflection.

Sometimes we get so caught up in the everyday chaos of life that we forget to just take a pause, to take a break, to breathe.

Well, that's what I want you to do.

Now that you're becoming more aware of how you are feeling, what you are thinking, I want you to take the time to notice it, to give it some attention, to let those feelings realize that, hey, you know what?

I gotcha.

I understand what you're trying to tell me.

And during this moment of reflection, I encourage you to spend time and thinking about what do you really want out of life?

Now, no, this might not just happen in one sitting.

I'm not talking about you sitting down for a deep dive reflection for the next hour.

No, I'm just talking about you taking a moment here and there to really think about life, to think about where you are and maybe where you want to be.

And here's the thing is if you want to be somewhere different than where you are, well, we have to figure out what you need to do to get you there.

But the first part is reflecting on it, to giving you the attention you deserve.

Clarity is found inside of reflection.

You can get clear on what it is that you really want.

And that's the point in you taking the time to do this exercise to reflect on you, is so that you can get clear, so that you can gain clarity, so that you can understand a little bit more if making a change is the right step for you.

Another key step in this process, we're gonna call this step number three, is we're gonna get a little bit deeper in the thought process here and figuring out with whatever it is that you're struggling with, if it's the right choice to make a change or not.

You already became aware, you've already reflected.

Well, now let's really think and let's identify if it is truly something that needs to happen, or maybe it's just something that's a short-term feeling that you have.

So, for this, I want you to look at your life from a bigger picture.

Considering the long-term patterns that you've had in your life, are you consistently feeling unsatisfied?

Has this feeling of discontentment been there for a long time?

Have you not liked your job for a while?

Or has it just been this week?

What about when you look into the future?

Do you see any signs of growth, of new opportunity?

Or do you feel kind of helpless?

Do you feel like you're not going anywhere?

Do you feel like you're stalled out?

Or do you have hope?

Hope is a powerful, powerful thing to have.

And well, I want you to realize it.

What do you see on the future?

Now, no, you don't have to have some grandiose dreams for the future, but I believe that you should have hope for better days.

We should all be striving to make tomorrow a little bit better than today.

And so what I'm saying is take an honest evaluation of your life today and where you see your life headed.

And does that align with what you truly want out of life?

That's what I'm talking about.

It's truly that simple.

Now, when we talk about change, there's one thing that holds us back.

It's fear, it's worry, it's anxiety, it's the fear of the unknown.

Because, well, the unknown is what stops us all dead in our tracks because we don't know what lies on the other side is going to be better.

But here's the thing fear can paralyze us, it can stop us.

Or maybe we can adopt a different mindset.

We can start to use fear to our advantage.

Because maybe fear is just a signal that you're about to embark on something really incredible.

Do you think that people, when they get ready to jump out of an airplane for skydiving, do you think there's probably some fear going on in their mind?

Yes, I would imagine so.

But once they take that leap and they start free-falling, and then all of a sudden the parachute pulls, and now they're floating in space with the beautiful earth below them.

They embraced fear, they took advantage of fear, and now they're getting to enjoy the rewards of it.

And that's what I want you to start doing.

If fear is what is holding you back, well, start to think how can I use this fear as my propulsion system?

How can I start to embrace fear, become fearless, and start living this life where I'm not held back because of being too scared, too worried, too anxious, too fearful of what might come.

Now, if you need a slower process than jumping out of an airplane, well, I would encourage you to just start taking little steps and remind yourself each step that you take of the success that you've had.

Cheer yourself on, build yourself up, make yourself realize that you know what, it doesn't have to be scary.

I can approach this with a different mindset and I can take calculated risks in an effort of improving my life.

Because that's what we're talking about after all.

We're talking about you making a change so that you can better your life.

Because, well, you and your future, they depend on it.

As a transformation coach, when I work with my clients, I oftentimes use the example of us getting into a swimming pool, or maybe it's getting into the springs where the water is freezing at cold.

And so what do we do?

Most of us, we take our big toe and we dip it in the water.

We see how cold it is, and we decide right then and there if we are jumping it or not.

Other people, well, there's the few crazy ones who just take a leap right off the bat, jump in and do a cannonball into the cold water.

But for most of us, we want to test it out a little bit.

So we put our toe in and we're like, okay, maybe I can put my whole foot in.

And then over time, you start easing yourself into the pool because it is so hot outside.

The pool might be cold, but you're starting to realize that it feels good.

You're testing the waters.

And so for you, if you are thinking about embarking on a new direction in your life, why don't you start testing the waters?

Figure out some little things you can start doing to start exploring if it is indeed the right change for you to make.

Talk to people, try new things.

Obviously, it depends on the situation, what you can do to test these waters, but you'll figure it out.

Get creative, begin to understand a little bit more about this new direction you're heading in and find new ways of testing those waters before you commit to it and dive all the way in.

One thing that I highly recommend in this process of exploring, of trying new things, is to reach out to your immediate circle, your best pals.

Now, I'm not just talking about anybody.

Do not go posting it on social media or announcing it to the whole family.

No, no, no, no, no.

Because people have a lot of opinions.

And to be honest, everyone's opinion is horrible except for yours.

Because, as I said earlier, you know you better than anyone else.

But sometimes it does help, though, to reach out to those people who you know have your best interest in mind and talk to them about it.

Sometimes it helps to just talk to somebody.

And I would encourage you to do that in this step of the process is to talk it out, to discover is it really the right step for me to do to make the leap, to make the change in my life or not?

Now, if you're really ready to explore the idea of change, if you're really thinking that, you know, Kevin, I think I am.

I think I'm ready, then I want to invite you to my free five-day blossom and arise challenge.

It's called Blossom and Arise, your five-day journey to your next best chapter of life.

During this free five-day event, we will be walking through my process called Arise.

What is a rise?

Well, it's a process I've developed in which each day builds upon the next.

On day one, you're going to awaken your biggest dreams and audacious desires.

On day two, we're going to have you reflecting on the present.

On day three, we're going to ignite your passions, your hidden desires, the things that light you up, the things that ignite you.

On day four, well, day four, we start putting the pieces together and we start sculpting and shaping what your future is going to look like.

Well, at least this next best chapter of your life.

And lastly, day five, you're going to adopt a mindset of embracing the journey.

All of that put together creates a rise.

And it is time for you to blossom and arise as part of this challenge.

It's all held inside of a private Facebook group.

And well, I really hope that you'll join me.

And well, I want you to be there.

Now it's virtual.

You don't have to travel anywhere.

It's not going to take up much of your time.

It's made to be something that you can incorporate into your already busy schedule.

And all you have to do to sign up is to go to gritgraceinspiration.com slash challenge.

So just go to that website, gritgraceinspiration.com slash challenge.

And that will give you a page with more details, plus a quick way to sign up and to get on the list.

And so you want to get on the list so that you can have access as soon as doors open.

Again, it's blossom and arise, your five-day journey to your next best chapter of life.

Now, I want to end by reminding you of this simple fact that when we talk about change, you are ultimately the one in control.

You are the one in power, in control of your destiny.

And no matter what the change is, it may be uncomfortable, it may be scary, it may be fearful.

But if you can learn to embrace the discomfort, you will get to reap the rewards awaiting on the other side.

Maybe it's time for you to finally turn the page.

And by doing so, get to embark on a whole new chapter of your life.

That's what's on the other side of change.

Because once we make the decision to change, once we do it, well, we get to discover what's on the other side.

And for you, well, for you, I hope it's the best chapter of your life.

That's what this is all about.

That's why I'm talking about the importance of you adopting the mindset of change, of not viewing it as scary, of realizing that it's a necessary part of our growth, of our development, of our life.

Thank you for joining me on today's episode of Grit, Grace, and Inspiration.

Please remember that you're not alone on this journey, and especially not alone with my free five-day challenge, Blossom and Arise.

Please be sure to go to gritgraceinspiration.com slash challenge, or just check out today's show notes where I will be sure that link is provided to you for easy access.

Because once in the challenge, well, you can be there with a group of people going through it all together, just like you.

Women just like you, on a journey in your life looking for change.

But well, it does help to have people to do it with.

So remember, this is grace and inspiration, inspiring you to get out there and take on the day, turn the page, make a change, and enjoy what lies on the other side.

My name is Kevin Lowe.

Thank you for being here with me today.

Again, check out today's show notes for links and access to the free five-day challenge.

And with that said, I'll see you next time.