Don't be Afraid to Embrace Change

Most people come to a point in life as adults when they want or need to make changes. It can range from stopping a habit that is harmful, such as smoking, to losing weight, to changing their profession, to leaving or starting a personal relationship, etc. Life IS change. The more difficult changes are the ones we discover are going to "be good" for us in the end, but which we find for many reasons are so very difficult to do. These are some things that a person needs to make major life changes easier and also to assure that they will be permanent (especially in the case of bad "habits")

1. The deep desire to change. If you are not unhappy or revved up enough to change, any attempt you make will probably fall short.

2. Wanting to change for yourself and not for others. Unless and until you want to make a change for yourself and not because it might please your spouse, friends, parents, society, etc., the chances of being able to do it are not favorable.

3, A vision of what things (you) will be like after you have successfully made the change. You might not be right, but having a positive vision of how things will be different is often very helpful. It plants positive "seeds" in the subconscious.

4. Tenacity. Change is often difficult and takes time. Making changes can be like a roller coaster ride, with ups and downs. "Hanging in there" when the going gets rough is critical.

5. A support system. Any difficult or major change is helped if a person has a "support system" of some kind. The support system can be family, friends, work colleagues, a support group, etc. The important thing is that they know what it is you want to change, and that they are positive and supportive of you all the way, even if you "stumble" along the way. A coach, a pastor, or a doctor can also be good support people, especially if the changes involve personal development, health issues, or major life shifts or transitions.

6. Our minds and bodies change from second to second, hour-to hour, day to day. Much of that change is not felt or noticed. But the changes people will notice, and the changes you make which will impact not only you but all who interact with you, are the changes that are the most difficult, and also the most rewarding. There is no need to fear change. Prepared with the right "tools" and support, humans can change in major ways and do so with much less pain or difficulty than they might imagine when they think about doing it originally.

7. Change. It doesn't have to be difficult, frightening or take forever. Aside from the changes we all make without any conscious effort during our lifetime, the conscious desire to positively change something in our life can be empowering and exciting. When it is completed, the "changed" person will have gained self-esteem, self-respect, courage, integrity, and much more!
Change...it's not just for the seasons.