You Are Allowed to Change Your Mind

Somewhere along the way, many of us absorbed the idea that changing your mind is a weakness. That sticking with the plan is strength, and reconsidering is failure. I would like to hand that idea back.

You made your current commitments with the information you had at the time. You know more now. Updating your direction when you learn something new is not flakiness. It is intelligence doing its job.

I think about how many people stay in careers, cities, and habits long past their expiration date because of a decision made by a younger version of themselves. Loyalty to an old choice is not the same thing as integrity.

Changing your mind does ask something of you. Honesty about what you now know, and courage to act on it. That conversation is easier with a thinking partner, and it is some of the most important work that happens in coaching sessions.

As I reflect on my own life, every good turn I have taken began with admitting the current road was wrong. You are allowed to turn. You always were.

How do I know when it is time to change direction?

Pay attention to persistent heaviness around a commitment, and to where your curiosity keeps drifting. Those are data. A decision deserves review when the facts or your values have changed.

Can coaching help me make a big decision?

Yes. Coaching gives you structured time to lay out what you know, test your reasoning, and hear yourself clearly. The International Coaching Federation describes coaching as a partnership that inspires people to maximize their potential, and big decisions are where that partnership earns its keep.

Where are sessions held?

Coaching sessions are virtual and one hour long, so you can join from anywhere. I am based in Phoenix, Arizona.

If you'd like more info, feel free to call me at 623-986-3987.

Warmly, Water Shepherd