Overcoming barriers to change
Sometimes in life, however hard we try, it can feel like an uphill struggle to move forward through change (this applies just as much to change we have chosen as change we haven’t). That’s because we’re often presented with barriers to change, which can prevent us from responding to the changes we face in a way that feels authentic and natural.
We all face different barriers to change at different times in our lives, depending on what we’re living through and our past experiences. When this happens, working out what’s causing the barrier is the only way to move forward through it. Some of the most common barriers to change include:
Fear: uncertainty about the future and fear of failure are enough to stop even the most ardent changemaker in their tracks (believe me, I know!), or at least slow down progress towards a change we want to create.
Shame: if you’ve ever thought that you’re not good enough, or that you don’t deserve good things to happen to you, then you’re not alone; it’s something that we all experience. But when shame is in the driving seat, it can be impossible to create change.
Confusion: sometimes we all find it hard to work out what we want and need. When we lack clarity, we can move towards false goals which don’t serve us. The only way out of confusion is to discover what we really want, by reconnecting with our values.
Inertia: also known as, “I can’t be bothered”! Don’t panic - inertia is another barrier to change which affects us all. There’s nothing wrong with spending your free time scrolling through Instagram - as long as you’re not doing it to avoid failure, or playing it safe so that you never achieve what you really want in life.
Lack of prioritisation: there’s no denying that life is a careful balancing act, and most of us are trying to keep multiple balls in the air at any one time. But prioritising what’s important - so that our actions align with our intentions - will nourish and energise you. It’s not easy, but it’s the only way to move towards our goals.
So many different things can get in the way of moving through change, and each one requires a different strategy to overcome it.
In my book, Untangled: a practical and inspirational guide to change we choose and change we don’t, I take a deeper dive into the common barriers to change, and provide useful strategies to help you overcome each of them so that you can move towards the change you want to create.
Untangled is available from 28 November and you can pre-order your copy from anywhere you usually buy your books online or in person.
