5. Create your support network.

When navigating change, an important but often overlooked consideration is creating a support system to help you through the process.

It’s important at this stage to be in conversation and not isolate oneself. This can take the form of women who have been career “girlfriends,” those who have shared insights over the years of your career. It can be a group of women who are going through the same career change as you or who are forging a similar path, such as an entrepreneurs group or an online member community.

You could lean on a network of both female and male mentor relationships you’ve nurtured over the years. If those don’t exist, nothing says you can’t build those connections now, as they can be fruitful. Once established, be sure to cultivate these relationships over time to create what starts to function as a personal Board of Directors or a group of Trusted Advisors.

Finally, consider reaching out to a leadership, career, or life coach. Sometimes when you get clouded, it can be invaluable to have a coach rather than a partner or friend who can listen and hear the threads and whispers that are drawing you. Their expert guidance and outside perspective can also be invaluable in helping you craft a focused plan and get you moving in the right direction.