Navigating the Emotional Cycle of Change
Have you ever felt like an emotional wreck when faced with change? Any change? You are not alone. All of us run through the emotional cycle of change when big or small changes happen in our lives. Knowing about the emotional cycle of change and being able to identify the stages can help you manage the big feelings that come with change and push through to achieve what you set out to do. I was first introduced to this concept in the book The 12 Week Year. The authors, Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington, have an excellent explanation in their book.
Today, I want to touch on the emotional cycle of change because:
Recognizing there are stages to every change can help you move yourself through the emotional cycle of change to reach the desired goal.
Being able to identify which stage you are in can be incredibly empowering and provide a way to the success and fulfillment you desire.
The Stages of the Emotional Cycle of Change
Uninformed Optimism
This is the initial stage where everything looks great. This is the best idea you have ever had. This will change your life. It is all rainbows and unicorns. You are full of excitement and enthusiasm for the outcomes that you believe will come from making this change. You're ready to take on the world, oblivious of any challenges ahead. This is the fun stage and many folks like to be here having ideas and being excited about the possibilities!
Informed Pessimism
You start to see what it will actually take to make the change. The work involved becomes more and more apparent. The realities and difficulties of implementing the steps needed to make this change become clear. Much of the excitement and enthusiasm from the Uninformed Optimism stage begins to wane as the pain of change begins to take center stage.
The Valley of Despair
This is the most challenging phase and very appropriately named. All the pain and effort required for implementing the change are evident. While none of the benefits can be seen. Even the memory of the excitement and enthusiasm that lead you down this road are long gone. It is the point where many people feel like giving up because the pain of change is fully felt. That emotion, that pain is not comfortable. It can seem easier to give up at this point and go back to stage one, Uninformed Optimism. At least at that stage everything feels good, you get to be excited and enthusiastic. Moreover, in stage one the rainbows and unicorns return. 🙂
Informed Optimism
If you, or better yet, when you push through the valley of despair, you enter informed optimism. Here you start to see some of the benefits of your efforts. The pain that was felt when implementing the change has lessened and the excitement begins to return. You know you are on your way to Success and Fulfillment. Your overall outlook becomes more positive and you even become more enthusiastic about the benefits of the change, again, FINALLY.
Success and Fulfillment
Once you have successfully navigated through the other stages of the emotional cycle of change you reach your destination of success and fulfillment. You have felt the ups, the downs, implemented the steps necessary, overcome the challenges, and now enjoy the benefits of your hard work. You can sit in the success that you reached your goal and you navigated the emotions of the change. You allowed yourself to feel through the change and implement the steps you knew that would get you what you wanted. Most of all, you did NOT quit. Success and Fulfillment, as it turns out, has its own rainbows and unicorns. Sometimes the benefits received from navigating through the emotional cycle of change are not fully realized until this last stage.
Managing the Cycle
Understanding these stages helps you recognize where you are in the cycle, manage your emotions, and manage your expectations. By pushing through the tough phases, especially the valley of despair, you can move towards the things you desire. Remember, change is a process, and it is normal to experience a range of emotions. That is why this concept of the emotional cycle of change is so important. Without knowing this concept you could be cycling through the first three stages over and over like a revolving door,
Uninformed Optimism > Informed Pessimism > The Valley of Despair > Uninformed Optimism > Informed Pessimism > The Valley of Despair > Uninformed Optimism > Informed Pessimism > The Valley of Despair > Uninformed Optimism > Informed Pessimism > The Valley of Despair…,
not knowing why you are unable to implement the changes you want to make and being super frustrated by your lack of progress in life and business.
By learning about the emotional cycle of change and being able to identify your current stage, you can better navigate the journey through each change, stay committed to your goals, and enjoy the fruits of your labor after you have made the desired change.
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