Choosing Change

​Listen to any political campaign and you are almost guaranteed to hear the word change.In relationships we can easily list the thing we want out partner to change. So why is it that in 2016, Forbes.comstated that 62% of people either never leave their comfort zone, or do so only occasionally? Isn’t change good? Sure! As long as it’s someone elsebeing required to change. We’re OK with telling someone elseto step out of their comfort zone to make things better, but when it comes to ourcomfort zone, I think John Maxwell said it best when he said, “People don’t naturally resist change. They resist being changed.” 

How Can I Embrace the Process of Change?

How many of us feel like we are “being changed”? Being changedmight feel like a very bad thing. Sometimes we wonder, “Why can’t people just love and accept me for who I am?” But what if deep inside, we knowthat we needto change. And despite our tough exteriors, we might even wantto change. We want to do, have, or be more, but we’re terrified of what kind of pain might be involved in that long, challenging process. And if we’re being absolutely honest with ourselves, many of us gave up long ago believing that change is even possible for us, so why even bother?  
Whether change happens voluntarily or involuntarily, when we embrace the process of change, we become more resilient. As I teach my clients, the pain we’ve been trying to avoid can actually be the path to peace. Rather than being something we fear, change can be an exciting journey to letting go of the old patterns in our lives that don’t serve us well, and actually finding the peace we’ve only dreamt about before now. 
 
If you find yourself resisting the process of change, maybe it’s time to reevaluate the reasons you are in the process at all. Does someone else want you to change? Are outward circumstances putting on the pressure? Perhaps it’s time to sit down and make a new list of the reasons that you want to change. 

• How is your behavior affecting your relationship? 
• Are your choices having a negative effect on your health? 
• Are there things you were put here on Earth to do that aren’t getting done? 
• How would  your life improve if you were to change a few key beliefs or behaviors?

 
Choosing to Change is one of the most powerful decisions you’ll ever make. It transforms the impossible into the possible. It puts purpose behind the problems. It helps you continue to put one foot in front of the other day after day, protecting you from becoming one of the 62% who are too afraid of leaving their comfort zone. 
 
Yes, change isn’t just for politicians anymore. It’s for you, and if you will make the decision and choose to changethe world will be a whole lot more peaceful for you, regardless of what the politicians or partners are doing. So take a deep breath, lift up your head, and choose change. ​

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