I am right in the middle of renovating my home right now. If you have ever renovated a living space, one thing you will learn quickly is that you wish you had made all the changes you wanted to before you moved in, however, that is not always possible.

It is only after living in a space for some time that you discover what you do and don’t want. The same applies for your lifestyle and your business.

Life or business make-overs do not always go according to plan and just like the renovation of your home, it can lead to much stress when setbacks and unexpected expenses occur while you’re knee-deep in your renovations. I, however, have learned that by keeping your eye on the vision of what it will look like when finished will get you through the thick and thin of it.

The key to staying positive during a renovation or makeover of any kind be it your home, your life or your business is to understand and accept that there will be challenges along the way. That is a given if you have spoken to anyone who has gone through such a disruptive process. So why expect anything different? Expecting something other than what is or what has a strong likelihood of happening along the way will only lead to frustration, disappointment, much stress and feelings of self-defeat.

Going through a big makeover can take a toll on your peace of mind. Extra expenses occur even after the most careful planning. Managing all the unexpected crises can be exhausting. There are definitely going to be times when your question why you engaged in the process and if it is worth it.

This is, however, part and parcel of any ‘renovation’ you embark on during the course of your life or business. To be victorious at your ‘renovating’ projects you need to do only three things to take most of the stress out of the project. They can be summed up in three words: planning, flexibility, and acceptance.

Planning

• Be honest with yourself regarding what you are capable of doing. Do you have the necessary skills?
• If you don’t have all the skills needed to make the changes you want to hire someone who does.
• Make a realistic assessment of your time constraints. How much time can you devote to your makeover without burning out?
• The most experienced ‘renovators’ know that even the best plans often go wrong. Build in costs, time, recovery periods ‘just in case’.

Flexibility

You need to be flexible enough to roll with the punches. No matter how well planned you are the truth is that sometimes things do not go as planned. If you are not flexible minor incidents can snowball into major stress triggers if you let them. Take time out to relax, keep your perspective fresh and do not be too attached to ‘my way or the highway’. Finding ways to stay positive during a trying renovation can help to keep you sane. Meet up with friends Spend time in nature Go see a fun movie Take your special one out for dinner Spend time at a spa or yoga retreat Walk your furry family member Read an inspirational book Take a day or weekend road trip A positive attitude will make you more productive and more creative, allowing you to move forward with the energy and enthusiasm you started off with. When the renovation is done, you will be able to enjoy the fruits of your journey instead of spending weeks or months recovering.

Acceptance

It is important to accept that things do not always go the way we want them to. Resisting the harsh realities only causes more pain and will not change the outcome.

• Assess the situation.
• Change whatever you can change
• If nothing can be done and you know you have done your very best to find solutions, accept ‘what is’ at the time
• Then let go until such a point in time when the situation changes or more information comes to light enabling you to take action and move forward

Persistence and keeping your eye on the end vision will see you through a difficult renovation of your home, your life or your business.

I have been living on my queen sized bed for the past 2 months while all my furniture is being stored in every possible space in my home other than the kitchen and living room which is being renovated. Initially, I resisted losing my routine and comfort, but I let go of that, going over and over in my mind of what it is going to look like when it is all finished. Now, I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and I will soon be able to share more pictures with you to celebrate my makeover.

Such is life. There will always be a ‘renovation’ of some kind especially if want to improve yourself and live the life of your dreams. Rather than resist the discomfort; plan, be prepared, take into account that unexpected curve balls will come whizzing by you and keep your eye on the target of your dream home, your dream life or your dream business.