Clarity First, Then Action

When it comes to creating change in your life, how do you feel about it?

Does it feel easy? Hard? Or does it depend on the change you’re considering?

For most people, it’s the last one.

Change is unavoidable — it’s part of life — but how we approach change makes all the difference.

One of the biggest misconceptions about change is that it starts with action. A big decision. A bold move. A dramatic shift.

In reality, change starts with awareness.

It’s about knowing what you want to be different.

That might sound simple, but in practice it’s often the hardest part.

Because almost as soon as you think about something you’d like to change, your mind jumps ahead to all the reasons why it won’t work, why it’s too hard, or why now isn’t the right time.

We’re wired for safety. What feels familiar and predictable is where we’re most comfortable. So when the idea of change appears, even if we feel excited, fear, doubt, and worry usually show up too.

And for many people, this is where change stalls.

Not because they’ve decided the change isn’t right, but because what they imagine it will take feels overwhelming. The gap between where they are now and where they think they’d need to be feels too big.

In my work as a coach, I see this often. People begin with curiosity or a quiet sense that something isn’t quite right in their life. They’re open to exploring change, and then quickly find themselves face-to-face with all the things that could go wrong.

This is where it helps to remember that, right now, your only task is clarity.

You don’t have to create a detailed plan. You don’t have to make a bold move. And you don’t have to figure out all the worst-case scenarios. All that’s needed is honesty about what you’d like to be different.

Just clarity about what you’d like to be different.

And if you do decide to move forward, change doesn’t always require big decisions or dramatic action. Thoughtful, small steps are often ideal, especially when they’re guided by what truly matters to you.

If you know it’s time to explore making changes, be kind, curious, and honest with yourself. Notice the fear, doubt, and worry when they show up, and instead of treating them as reasons to stop, simply acknowledge them.

For now, the work is simply to get clarity.