Embracing Your Inner Chameleon: How to Navigate Change with Confidence
There comes a time in everyone’s career when change calls our name. Sometimes it’s a whisper; a soft tug of curiosity, a subtle discontent. Other times it roars, shaking up everything we thought was steady. Regardless of how it shows up, the truth is: change is inevitable. Yet, few of us feel completely ready for it.
I’ve gone through many transitions in my career: changing industries, roles, and even identities within companies. At first, these shifts felt jarring. Over time, I learned something powerful: we are all chameleons. We have the ability to adapt, evolve, and grow into something new, especially when we give ourselves permission to do so.
The Power of Pretending (Until It Is Real)
There was a time I wanted to pivot back into finance. I had no idea how I’d make that leap. Each morning before work, I’d stand in front of the mirror and imagine myself already in that role. I’d hold my posture differently. I’d think like a finance leader. I’d feel into that version of me.
It may sound small or even silly, but that practice built up my confidence. I started to believe that a change was possible. Sure enough, opportunities began to open. I had more conversations with people in that space, learned from them, and eventually landed a higher-level finance role within a year.
Acting as if isn’t about being fake, it’s about rehearsing for the life you want to live.
Letting Go of Old Identities (Without Losing Connection)
Leaving a company can feel like a breakup. Just like in personal relationships, there can be a temptation to keep tabs: checking stock prices, reading press releases, or staying emotionally invested in their success or struggles. I’ve been there.
What helped me was creating energetic boundaries. I stopped reading their financial statements. I unfollowed some accounts. I let that chapter close, fully and consciously. That choice gave me the mental space to build something new, without bitterness or obsession.
It’s possible to maintain connections with former colleagues and friends without clinging to the identity you once had. Appreciation doesn’t require attachment.
Symbols Matter: The Jewelry Lesson
After a deeply painful breakup, I continued wearing a piece of jewelry tied to that relationship. I loved the piece, but over time I realized it was keeping me tethered to an old emotional energy.
Eventually, I was lucky to buy a new piece that felt like me; not who I had been, but who I was becoming. The moment I stopped wearing the old and embraced the new, my life began to shift. It was as if I’d cleared the space for something brighter.
The same principle applies to our professional lives. Sometimes we wear the "uniform" of our past too long: outdated titles, outdated roles, outdated energy. We forget we can take it off.
Your Wardrobe Reflects Your Identity
I know people who’ve experienced real transformation by changing how they dress. Not for others, but for themselves. One friend transitioned from a corporate role into creative entrepreneurship and updated her wardrobe accordingly. She found peace in letting go of her business attire.
Dress for the life you're stepping into, not the one you're walking away from.
Practical Steps to Embrace Change
If you’re navigating a change in your career or identity, here are a few tips that have helped me:
1. Morning Visualization
Each day, spend 1-2 minutes imagining yourself already living your next chapter. Let yourself feel it. Don't make this a major time commitment! You can make time to smile at yourself and envision your future.
2. Declutter Your Digital Life
Unfollow old company news or unsubscribe from newsletters that tie you to your old path.
3. Update Your Environment
Small things matter: a new notebook, a new profile photo, a new morning routine.
4. Connect with Possibility
Talk to people already in the field or role you’re drawn to. Let their stories remind you that change is doable.
5. Release What No Longer Serves (thanks yoga, for this helpful mantra!)
Whether it’s a piece of jewelry, a LinkedIn headline, or an old belief. Let. It. Go. (Que the "Frozen" music).
We Are Never Only One Thing
That’s the beauty of being human. We are multifaceted. We are not just one job title, one industry, one version of ourselves. Change doesn’t mean you were wrong before. It simply means you’re ready for what’s next now.
So what about you?
What change are you craving? What’s helped you step into a new version of yourself?
Let this be your gentle reminder: You are allowed to evolve.
Maybe, just maybe, it’s time to release what no longer serves you and step into something that does.
In Closing
If you’re navigating change and could use a little support on your journey, I’d love to connect via email (laurie@goldenpath.me). Reach out anytime, as sometimes a single conversation is all it takes to help you take the next step with clarity and confidence.
Dream big!
Laurie
