Integrating change: what to expect during and after mindset coaching
You may hear the word ‘integration’ used in the counselling, coaching and therapy worlds. By broad definition, integration relates to adapting new insights or ideas into life as we know it. In a nutshell, integration is the process of learning something new and then learning how to apply what we’ve learned.
Sometimes we experience a shift in perception that is felt at the very core of who we are, a change so rapid and profound that it influences our view of who we are, which can trigger an identity crisis. The key to navigating the integration process is to first have patience and compassion for yourself and being willing to trust that the changes you’re moving through were needed if not desired.
At THINK, we emphasise the importance of being kind to ourselves during the integration process, especially when the changes we are making influence our attachment to our identity, i.e. who and what we believe we are.
Whenever I complete a personal development retreat or workshop, I make sure I schedule some integration time in the weeks following. I reflect on my latest discoveries and allow myself time to adapt to new ways of being, doing and having.
What is integration?
For me, integration is a process spanning days or weeks, sometimes months. I give myself time to process changes in how I see myself and my reality, allowing all of me to consider what I now know about myself and figure out the next steps.
Integration is a time for observing how differently I feel about myself and the world around me, to retest the waters of life without the old patterns of behaviour that used to keep me feeling stuck.
It is a time to be mindful of maintaining the new me, to put a little more effort than usual into making sure I am at cause and that I am taking full responsibility for not only creating the outcomes I desire for myself but maintaining them as well.
Integration is a time to make minor tweaks to achieve optimal balance.
Big shifts may require longer integration
Not everyone has a smooth ride through the integration period. For some, it can be turbulent. Some clients tell me their friends and family no longer seem to understand them, or their colleagues appear wary or standoffish. At the unconscious level, those people have observed a shift in you that they are yet to fully understand and it can trigger their need to be cautious.
I once questioned whether the changes I had made in my life and worked so hard for were a good idea to start with, especially when others in my life seemed to distance themselves from me or openly criticised me.
Personal transformation processes require us to make adjustments in most if not all areas of our life, which means there is likely to be some shifting sands and ruffled feathers along the way while we experiment with and settle on new ways of thinking, being, doing and having that more closely align with how we want to experience life.
Trust in your abilities
Ultimately, integration is a process unique to the individual that deserves our time and patience. It is when we learn so much about ourselves.
We each have the potential to not only enact change but to embrace it. And we are each fully equipped to be able to handle it in our own way.
Be patient and be OK with experiencing emotions. Know that you can communicate your intentions with loved ones, friends and colleagues. By sharing your journey with those in your life you not only have a greater capacity to be supported, but you also help pave the way for others to say yes to themselves and start making positive changes in their lives.
There has never been a better time to level up your success mindset. We work online with people throughout Australia and overseas to overcome their blocks and start living life by design, rather than simply live the life they’re resigned to. Book a free enquiry call now.
