I have spent the majority of my working life looking at
change models and developing initiatives and strategies to ease the change
process. The subject fascinates me.
I first learnt of a “change process” when sat in a lecture theatre
eagerly awaiting a speech on “making the most of your year abroad”. I was
expecting an upbeat promotion of the wonderful experience that we were all
about to embark upon delivered by students who had done it, been there and had “found
themselves”. Unfortunately, I was faced by a university lecturer who solemnly
pulled up a slide on the projector to explain how we were probably going to
experience “anxiety”, “fear” and “depression” at some point during our trip ...
certainly not what I wanted to hear!
Anyway, I do digress. I am just about to move house,
something I hate at the best of times and this time it is not helped by the
fact that my partner of 5 years is moving to London whilst I stay in
Cheltenham. I feel like I have been on a placid playground ride that has just
turned into Nemesis at Alton Towers. Suddenly I have had to find somewhere new
to live, start to pack up my things, leave behind the silly items that were
bought specifically for the large regency-style apartment we were living in, downsize
significantly and divide our other things between our two new houses (obviously
I have earmarked all of our nicest belongings).
Although I am used to considering the change curve and
process on a work-level, I had not really stopped to think about how it affects
us on a personal level and how unsettling yet exciting change can be in
everyday life. I think I am currently stuck somewhere around the denial stage,
having left all my belongings unpacked and still avoiding planning the logistics
of the move, but I am keen to follow my own progress through the many stages of
change.
Paul moves out for good on Sunday and I will be making the
transition to my new place in two weeks, so I’ll keep you updated!
To understand a little more about the change process, check out this diagram by John Fisher.
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