Perhaps when you were younger, you learned to drive a stick shift car. Over time, you become connected to the car — you shift to a higher gear when you feel you’re being held back, and you know to shift to a lower gear when you’re climbing a hill.
In a similar way, when you’re connected to your consciousness, you can identify when you become stuck, and know that you need to shift gears.
We’ve seen many of our clients grapple with their unconscious commitments—often they’re trapped in a cycle of reactive defensiveness, desperate to prove themselves right.
It’s a familiar scene. You’re navigating a complex business landscape, facing demanding projects, challenging colleagues, or battling perfectionism. You feel stuck, and deep down, you yearn to shift gears: a noticeable change in your sense of freedom, creativity, emotional well-being, or attitude toward yourself and others.
In such moments, it’s crucial to pause and ask yourself one important question:
Are you truly willing to shift?
If the answer is yes, you need a courageous mindset. Rather than succumbing to blame or defensiveness, take a moment to explore a different approach. Can you embrace a new perspective? Making the conscious choice to shift opens the door to true transformation.
Enter the world of shift moves. Good conscious leaders hold personal treasure troves of powerful shift moves to be their secret arsenal against drama and lingering conflicts. They can be anything that disrupts your current state: a meditation, a question you ask yourself, or even a posture change. These mini-exercises are thoughtfully designed to guide you toward your desired state of being free, curious, and creative.
Here are 7 of our favorite shift moves:
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Have a 15 second temper tantrum. Include your whole body and make noise: By giving yourself permission to let loose, you create space for emotional release and mental clarity. It’s a powerful tool for breaking free from the grip of stress and resetting your mindset for more constructive problem-solving.
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Imagine you are on your death bed, and you get to go back in time and relive just one scene with the person you are with and this is the moment: This shift move prompts deep reflection, enabling you to let go of grievances and approach the situation with renewed perspective and appreciation. Use this shift move to get unstuck from resentment, grudges, and misunderstandings.
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Hop on one foot and flap your arms while talking about your issue: This lighthearted move disrupts seriousness, helping you detach from negative emotions and foster an open and playful mindset. It works by changing our blood and body chemistry, and breaks the hold of our reactivity. This move injects play and lightness into your situation, encouraging more relaxing problem-solving.
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Speak from the opposite point of view for one minute: By intentionally exploring perspectives opposite to your own, you cultivate empathy, broaden your understanding, and create space for open dialogue and collaboration. This shift move can help you get unstuck from narrow-mindedness, stubbornness, and conflict.
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Give yourself a new name that matches your current attitude: Embrace the power of naming to recognize and shift unhelpful patterns. When you do so, you might find you’re embodying a Doubtful Debbie, or perhaps a Pessimistic Paul. By assigning a name to this part of you, you gain a valuable tool for self-awareness. Let go of old patterns and embrace a fresh perspective with openness and curiosity.
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Put your attention on the other people involved in your issue, and say out loud three things you genuinely appreciate about them: Shift your focus from conflicts and grievances by actively acknowledging the positive qualities of others. Embrace this shift to foster a more empathetic and open approach to resolving issues, and get unstuck from negative assumptions and strained relationships.
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Move your hips in a way they’ve never moved before while talking seductively about your issue: Break through tension and create a more open and relaxed state of mind for addressing challenges with this liberating shift move that brings humor and physicality into the mix. This shift encourages playfulness and spontaneity, easing stress and enhancing creativity in your problem-solving process.
Using shift moves for family and home.
Remember, the power of shift moves extends far beyond work. Your personal life is brimming with opportunities for exploration, growth, and transformation.
When confronted with internal conflicts or negative thought patterns outside of work, practice a shift move. It’ll prompt self-reflection, open up new possibilities, and help you break free from limiting beliefs or emotional barriers.
Shift moves can also work wonders at home, like when your kids come to you with complaints or conflicts. Instead of diving into arguments or imposing solutions, encourage them to try a shift move that resonates with them. Teaching shift moves early on enables them to see dramatic situations from different angles and foster creative problem-solving. The same applies to your marriage, where applying shift moves can lead to more constructive resolutions within the family dynamic.
As you navigate the complexities of relationships, personal growth, and self-discovery, having a powerful tool can make all the difference. That’s where the Shift Deck shines: it has an extensive collection of ready-made shift moves, and you can keep it within reach (either in the center of your conference room table, or in your living room at home) as a tangible reminder to support your journey. It’s important to note that you don’t need the deck to experience shifts, but if visual reminders and ready-made prompts are helpful reminders for you or those around you, it can be a valuable tool to have on hand.
Whether you choose to use the Shift Deck or explore your own creative shift moves, unlocking the extraordinary power of shifts in your everyday life can open up a new world of transformation and connection.
Second, they ask themselves, “in order for me to stay stuck in limbo with this issue, what do I need to be unwilling to fully face?” This could be a person, circumstance, condition, a story you’re believing, or a reality you’re avoiding.
Third, they ask, “What feeling am I avoiding feeling?” Start with the core feelings of anger, fear, sadness, joy and sexual feelings. Look especially into your body for places you are numbing physical sensations.
Fourth, ask “What would be at risk if I fully faced, felt and dealt with this issue?” Make a list.
Finally, “What is it costing me to stay stuck in limbo?” Don’t be deceived, the cost of staying stuck in limbo is great both to you and to the people around you. It’s costing you aliveness, vitality, forward progress, energy, respect for yourself and respect from others, creativity and integrity.
Conscious leaders know when they’re in limbo and they consciously choose to stay stuck or to shift.
More
- Curiosity vs. Being Right video – Conscious leaders understand why they, and others, want to be right. They accept this threatened state and use curiosity to shift.
- Instructions for “Doing the Work” by Byron Katie – What if the opposite of your story is at least as true? Use these simple steps to investigate your beliefs and free your mind.
- Commitment #2 Meditation “Curiosity” – This meditation supports you in letting go of being right, and embracing the idea of curiosity.
