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