Page 15 - September USA 2017 Mag - Complete

change revolution
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE
NO WAY OUT
PHIL COOKE
I’ll never forget the experience of being fired. I was 36 years If you’ve hit your wall and have no other options, then your
old, with a wife and two small children. After telling my wife
Kathleen, we sat on the bed, cried a little, and realized
there was no way out. But looking back today, I can see the
jolt of that experience was the best thing that could have
ever happened to me.
Shortly afterwards, we began the greatest journey of
change we had ever experienced, because I had hit a
wall. I had no other choice, and there was only one an-
swer—change or die. Perhaps you’ve hit your wall. Maybe
you’ve been fired, divorced, financially ruined, hit bottom
from substance abuse, been humiliated, experienced fail-
ure, or had a close call with death. If your life has been
completely turned upside down, and you’re at the end of
your rope, then you have it easy.
That’s right—you actually have it easy! Doing the research
for my book on how to change your life called “Jolt!” I dis-
covered that the most difficult aspect of changing your life
is beginning – taking the first step. Most people rest on their
laurels, take the easy way out, rationalize their options—any-
thing—to keep from changing.
decision is already made. Your choice has been decided
and you’re on the way up! But if you haven’t quite hit bot-
tom yet and been jolted into reality, the choice is going to
be much tougher.
Your arguments might include: Sure I’m frustrated with my
job, but at least it’s a paycheck, and a lot of people are out
of work right now. I’m not really drinking that much, and af-
ter all, I could quit just about any time. Oh, I dreamed about
a different life, but that was a kid’s dream. It’s not really
something that’s realistic for me to pursue now. I could ad-
vance faster if I got my college degree, but I work all day, so
why should I spend my evenings going to class? I could go
on and on. I don’t know your particular frustration, but I’m
sure you have a million excuses for why you’ve never be-
gun your journey to change. You haven’t hit your particular
wall, so your life could easily go on for years, maybe your
whole life, before you realize you’ve traded your dreams for
a shallow, empty copy.