EXPLORE Change - Step 2

Ready to EXPLORE!

If you’ve worked through Step 1 EMBRACE, to help you decide the change you want to make, you’re ready to Explore - Step 2. We may have an idea of what we want to change or what we want, but we don’t often know what steps to actually take next to make the change happen. In Step 2 EXPLORE, of the E4 Method of change management, is the discovery of what we can do to make that change.

Does the word “EXPLORE” bring thoughts of adventure, anticipation of a new experience, feeling energized, or anxiety, apprehension, or fear? Identifying our feelings is important in understanding where we are - our place, it influences what wellbeing means to us, and it’s important for personal change management.

Consider explore on a continuum, from the most positive feelings about exploring change to the most negative. Which side are you closest to? There isn’t a “right” answer or right location on the continuum. This is a locator step, dropping a pin, or placing an “x”, just one step in identifying, where we are, our place.

Once we’ve decided to EMBRACE - Step 1 and identify where we are, we’re ready to think about where we want to be or the change we want to make, and the next step is what we can do to bring it about. Step 2 - EXPLORE, of the E4 Method, for mastering change (Yes! You can master change!) Then on to the next steps, ENGAGE - Step 3 - what I will do to get there, and finally EXAMINE - Step 4. Did I get there, did I accomplish the change? Is this where I want to be?

In EMBRACE, Step 1 - we identified something to change. Before we made our choice we considered where we are (here) and where we want to be (there). What we have and what we want. It’s probably not a literal place but something we want. We are only choosing a single thing to change that we think or feel can increase our well-being. You can do this! It can be as big or small as you want - you decide. You are in control.

Where, what or how do I want to be – physically, relationally, emotionally, financially? What do I want to do? These are questions to consider in Step 1 - EMBRACE. In step 2 - EXPLORE we look at all the ways we can accomplish the change or what we will do, the action step(s) to bring the change about.

A great thing about the LE - E4 Method of change management is that no matter where we are - we can start, now, right where we are.

Most of us can complete step 1 - EMBRACE. We decide on a change to make, or can identify what we want to change, but then stall and get no farther. In this step we may have feelings of frustration or anger, or we may feel inspired, motivated, or committed! We want to change, or know what we wish was different, but then we get stuck. Now what? How do we actually make the change. If we don’t know what to do we often don’t do anything and we’re STUCK. Or we do something, anything. It’s not thought out and we fail, we don’t accomplish the change or make little progress. We can have too many action options or no clearly identified next steps so we feel overwhelmed, or there are barriers we underestimate and stall out before we even get going.

Identifying the change is an accomplishment and you’ve already made progress! Step 1 - EMBRACE. This is marking your place, having decided where you want to go, you have your point of departure as you set out to identify your itinerary to EXPLORE.

“Explore” may seem like a big idea to you but in reality it’s only as big as you make it. You are in control. If control is something you struggle with - maybe you feel anxious or apprehensive because you believe you don’t have it or maybe you don’t want it - try to embrace it in this process. You have control in each step of this process. You decide the goal, the pace, and can even pause if needed. But please don’t abandon it.

EXPLORE - is about discovering how the change can be made, how others may have made it, what was helpful, what makes sense or seems like something you can do. Explore anything and everything to find what you can do to accomplish your goal. It is simply investigating or doing research, gathering information. You can use AI tools or search the web, speak with others about what they did or how they made the change you chose. In this step you are gathering information to select the actions you will do in the next step - Step 3 ENGAGE .

If you know what to do but haven’t been able to get it done, think about why that is? What are the barriers. Gather more information about how to make the change.

In EXPLORE you work to learn how you can make the change you want, exploring what is recommended, what studies show, what YouTube videos demonstrate, what friends and family have done. You look at as many options, do as much research, explore until your heart and mind are content. Make the EXPLORE list of all your ideas - you’ll sort through them in ENGAGE - Step 3! But for now you are an explorer - collecting as much information as you want. You are in control so if an option isn’t for you, you don’t have to do it. You decide. I do encourage you to track your process or journey, because later in step 4 - EXAMINE, you may want to consider or implement other options.

If you get “analysis paralysis”, and find it difficult to stop exploring, try limiting your search list. You can choose a number of ideas to list and stop there - at least for now. You can revisit your list or resume EXPLORE if needed after EXAMINE - Step 4 if the results weren’t what you hoped. On the other hand, if you’re prone to do as little work as possible, add one more idea, or a few. You’re the explorer and this is the adventure just for you.

Managing change is a skill to be learned, and life is all about learning. Learning more about ourselves, what we want to change and what we want in our life. Join us at LifEdvice - Learning to Live Life Well!

Use the LE E4 Quick Guide!