A couple of weeks ago I hit a wall in my journaling.

I am a big believer in journaling. I think it is a powerful tool in building the life we want, and moving our lives from where they are to where we want them to be. I suggest it to every client, and I have yet to have one, even one, tell me that it did not help.

But I was hitting a wall. I would sit down at my computer to write in my journal software, and I had nothing. Nada. Zip. For a couple of weeks I stared at the screen and it stared back and nothing came of it.

So finally I tried something different. I pulled out an old journal book, just lined pages with nothing in it, and began to write. And guess what? The logjam broke. I was writing page after page. Good stuff.

The point here is not whether to use electronic journaling or a paper journal. Truth is, they have both have some unique advantage. The point is more one of not beating your head against the wall and expecting something new.

We have all heard the cliche, the quote from Albert Einstein that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. And yet (come on, be honest!) we all do it.

Are we all insane?

Of course not. But we still do it. We expect big change in our lives, in our organizations, in our work, without taking the leap of trying something new. Are we afraid of the risk? Of the discomfort? Of succeeding?

The answer could be yes to either of these, or all of these, depending on who we are and what the situation is. But one thing is clear… we are afraid of something.

Part of what coaching and consulting does is help people and organizations find those pain points, and find their way past them to success. Whether it is life changes, rethinking an organization, marketing, or delving into a personal spirituality, change can happen. The change you and any of us wants can happen.

But too often we try and do it alone, and we fail again and again and again. Maybe it’s time to do it differently. Whether it is with a coach and consultant like me, or an accountability partner, maybe we need someone who can help us see ourselves more clearly, and help us navigate and push through what has been holding us back.

So, before you attack the new year with new hopes, and no real change to make that hope happen, think about who could help you. You want someone who can help you see yourself more clearly, who is accepting and kind in their approach and who will hold you accountable.

Look around your friends and mentors. Who has or has been trained in those attributes? Talk to them. Ask if they would work with you. Stop doing it alone. Try something new. And watch it happen.

Be well. Travel wisely,

Tom

PS: If you do want to try a coach/consultant, I have free trial offers for both coaching and consulting. No risk.