If people get dissatisfied enough with their home, they make a change.  They talk to a professional, come up with a plan, determine if it is worth the cost. If it is – they renovate.  They get rid of what is old and not working for them and replace it with something meets their meets their needs and makes the home more livable.  In a Life Renovation, people who are frustrated with areas of their life identify what is not working. They develop a plan. If they decide it is worth the time and effort, they take action and make the change.

Step One - Discontent

Change will never occur until the pain of staying the same exceeds the pain of change.  Discontent is often though of as a negative emotion.  However, if discontent motivates you to positive action and change, then it is anything but negative.  It all depends on what you do with discontent; does it lead to envy or depressed feelings or does it motivate you to do something about it?  What about your life are you feeling discontent?  A relationship?  Your health?  Your job?  It may be time for a change. 

Step Two - Identifying the Change

Once you identify the source of your discontent, then you can begin to focus on what specifically you want to change.  However, this is where a lot of people get stuck.  They either believe the problem is too big and they don't have the power to change it.  Or they may identify the problem in another person, and we know we can't change other people.  However, we can always make things better, either by changing the circumstances or being able to change our attitude and see things differently. 

Step Three - Making a Plan

If someone wants to renovate their home, they probably have some ideas in mind.  They know what rooms they want to upgrade and some vision of what it will become.  Yet, they will still need to call a designer, architect, or contractor to make sure it can be done.  Having a professional at this stage can save a world of headaches later.  Your life renovation deserves nothing less.  A strong plan will produce faster results with less effort. 

Step Four - Counting the Cost

As with any project, there comes a time for a cost/benefit analysis.  What is this project going to cost me?  What is the perceived benefit I will receive for that cost?  Everything costs something.  A sustained and significant life change will cost you time, effort, and most likely some money.  Is it worth it?  If not, don't do it!  But if it is, it is time to get to work. 

Step Five - Demolition

Taking a sledge hammer to cabinets and walls during a renovation can be exhilarating.  However, in a life renovation, demolition of old habits, attitudes, or ways of thinking is not so easy.  In life, steps 5-7 are happening simultaneously over a longer than expected period of time.

Step Six - Expect the Unexpected

One thing that nearly every renovation project will bring is that unexpected moment when things go wrong.  Perhaps the electrical is not up to code, or a previously unknown water leak that has done damage to the floor, or you discover the wall you wanted to take down is load bearing.  It happens in life as well.  As  you go through the process of transformation, you will have set-backs and unexpected self-discovery.  You need to be ready to persevere because the best is yet to come. 

Step Seven - Reconstruction

Reconstruction is putting it all back together.  This is a more gradual process as we renovate our habits and mindsets, but it can and will be done.  Over time small steps can take you a long distance in life. 

Step Eight - The Punch-List

You make the punch list when the project is "substantively completed".   Perfection is not an option, we will always be a work in progress.  But there is a time to tweak rather than transform.  The punch list allows you to make continue to make small adjustments even when the work has been done.
 

Step Nine - Repeat

With one area that has been renovated, you may be quite satisfied with your progress.  Or you might be ready to tackle another project.  Where are you discontent?  What area of life is next on the agenda.  There are seven major areas that will need work throughout your life - in time you will renovation each of them several times in your life.  To learn more...click here.