I’ve been reading about different models of change and wanted to share the first of two posts on this topic, especially with so many people in transition. I believe knowing where you are situated in a change cycle can bring comfort and allow you to fully embrace each chapter, both the positive and more challenging ones.

This model of change comes from The Hudson Institute.  I first heard about it when I was in a period of introspection they describe as Cocooning. There were other people in the room who were clearly Going For It which reminded of times when I had similarly had a sense of direction and was moving forward full steam ahead with creative projects and new ventures. To be Cocooning and not Going For It was a disappointment for me at the time. Learning of the Cycle of Renewal helped me see that this was all part of an important process, that I needed to be in that place of introspection in order to hone in on what was most important to me and figure out the next steps on my life’s path. In fact, it was a bit of a relief to not expect myself to be Going For It at a time when I wasn’t ready.

Working with people in transition, I like to bring up this model for change because I think there can be a desire to want to rush through the uncomfortable periods when in fact this is exactly what you need to be to move forward in your personal evolution.

Where are you situated in this model of change? How does knowing this help you embrace this period of your life more fully?

CYCLE OF RENEWAL

Phase I: Go For It

“Go For It,” is the positive part of a life chapter, when you seek to live your dream and reach a sustainable plateau of success and well-being. You are on Purpose, and life, for the most part, is working.

Phase II: The Doldrums: The Disenchanted Self!

“The Doldrums,” is a down time, a protracted sense of decline, when you’re not happy with your life chapter, but you don’t think you can do much about it. The Doldrums are meant to serve as a wake-up call, an invitation to restructure or reinvent your life so that it works for you once more.

Phase III: Cocooning

“Cocooning,” is a detachment from the chapter that wasn’t working, a beginning of a major life transition. In Cocooning, you take an emotional “time out” to heal, reflect, and discover new directions for your life, eventually leading to renewal and revitalization. Cocooning nurtures and nourishes the soul, giving birth to a new script and a beginning of a new “story” for the next chapter of your life.

Phase IV: Getting Ready

“Getting Ready,” is a time for experimenting, training, and networking, resulting in a launching of your next chapter. You test the possible paths ahead that will allow you to live your purpose and values. At that point, you write the script for the next chapter of your life and plunge into it. You have arrived in Phase I again.

-The Hudson Institute

Take a look at their Reading List for the different sections of the change cycle. Up next is Martha Beck’s model of change from Finding Your Own North Star.