| Smoothly Without A Action Plan, Is A Recipe | | | | level expatriate lived his entire career life |
| For Disaster If you just landed a new posting | | | | outside of his home country. During those |
| or job, or moved to a new environment in a | | | | years away, he and his family became used to |
| completely foreign country, are you adjusting | | | | traveling and living affluently with a |
| well to all the changes? Do you find yourself | | | | tremendous amount of help with the day-to-day |
| feeling overwhelmed and frustrated with what | | | | details. When they decided to return to their |
| you have to learn in order to feel at home? | | | | home country they assumed things would all |
| Is your spouse suffering with the changes, | | | | work out. They bought an expensive home and |
| leaving you feeling like you can�t help | | | | began to entertain people at lavish dinner |
| because of your travel schedule? In my work | | | | parties set in their abundant gardens, not |
| as a coach working with people in transition, | | | | compromising their accustomed way of living. |
| I often tell my clients; �Step back, | | | | As time progressed, they discovered how |
| look at your current situation and take a | | | | difficult it was to maintain their high |
| deep breath. Just rest for five minutes and | | | | standard of living. Without a maid, and only |
| relax from your hectic day.� They | | | | occasional help from a gardener they were |
| initially think I have no idea what I�m | | | | doing all the work themselves, and ultimately |
| talking about. Many people who have made | | | | the expatriate had a heart attack. His wife, |
| similar changes in their lives feel that | | | | who had been a brilliant entrepreneur, |
| there is no time to step back, and certainly | | | | reduced herself to menial labor to keep the |
| not a second to relax. My clients initially | | | | house together and continue having parties. |
| respond to my suggestions with something like | | | | They both discovered that despite all their |
| the following: �I don�t have any | | | | efforts at welcoming many people into their |
| time at all to �step back��, I | | | | lives, they had not developed any real |
| just have to move quickly and get things | | | | friendships. They were, in fact, isolated and |
| done. I have a thousand things on my agenda | | | | tired from all their efforts without |
| and even more on my mind. My life is in total | | | | accomplishing what they wanted which was to |
| chaos between the job, the kids, the new | | | | become part of a community and enjoy their |
| language I have to learn and the strangeness | | | | lives. When they finally found me, they were |
| of this new culture�. I don�t even | | | | demoralized and frustrated. These people did |
| sleep well because of my head spinning with | | | | not take their time to investigate what they |
| all I�m taking on!� Exactly! | | | | were embarking on when they changed their |
| You�re probably exhausting yourself | | | | lifestyle. They would have benefited |
| trying to do everything on your list and very | | | | tremendously if they had done a bit of |
| soon feel completely overwhelmed by your | | | | research on the changes inherent with moving |
| circumstances. It doesn�t have to be | | | | to a new country, and followed an action |
| this way because there are solutions. | | | | plan. Do we want to live there? If so, what |
| What�s more, the solutions are within | | | | plan or approaches do we need to follow to be |
| you�. you just have to consider how to | | | | able to enjoy our lives in new surroundings? |
| approach what�s in front of you with a | | | | Who can help us makes these changes, and what |
| plan� and THEN some action. Taking the | | | | is it worth? When you are making a life |
| time to assess what you need to do means that | | | | change and you take time to reflect on what |
| you first must know and fully understand what | | | | you want you will discover more about how to |
| the problems are. This is where taking the | | | | actually get what you want from your life. |
| time to step back and honestly look at your | | | | Talk things over with your family; discuss |
| situation, offers you the perspective and | | | | them with your friends and certainly, your |
| peace that you so desperately need. Then you | | | | coach. This small action can save you months, |
| will be able to create an action plan that | | | | or years, of struggle and hard work, as well |
| works, instead of just adding to your stress. | | | | as bring you closer to living your life |
| Let me give you an example of this: A high | | | | joyfully! |