We all fear change in varying degrees, but why is this? Change is accompanied by uncertainty. When things are changing, you don't always feel in control of what's going on. This article is aimed at those of you who feel as though you are ready to change, eagerly awaiting a purpose, and perhaps needing that last push towards your next step. I want to break down this idea of change in terms of three, hopefully helpful, questions:
What is change, really?
Change is the composite of a series of individual decisions made on a daily basis. Let’s think about it literally; change is defined as becoming different, altered, or modified; to switch or exchange; to transform or deviate. We claim that we want to change, but we don’t see results. To change does not mean we must become a totally different person. This is a common misconception. Changing yourself occurs over the course of daily decisions you choose to do differently. But the key is just that – you must do differently. You must try something--anything--that's new to you.
Example: If you wanted to bake a cherry pie, would it make sense to go buy apples? No. Because you know that no matter how many times you put an apple pie in the oven, it's not coming out cherry. Not in a lifetime of tries. You might have perfected the apple pie and people might rave about your apple pie. But in the end, you know if you want to make a cherry pie, you'll need to change some ingredients. Change is introducing new aspects of reality to your life.
Why is change important?
The brain is like the rest of your muscles in that it needs to be exercised in order to grow. When you want to get stronger, you start lifting weights, and you increasingly add weight as you feel yourself growing. So how do we work out our minds? How do we exercise our imaginations? You do this by changing up your mental environment. You need to make new decisions, meet new people, and do new things. You need this in order to expand your practical knowledge in life, or in other words, your self-awareness. In nearly all of his works, Napoleon Hill references this need to challenge your mental environment on a consistent basis in order to grow in knowledge and understanding.
Change is important in terms of the brain's functioning. When you expose yourself to different environments and circumstances, you are prompting the brain to come to different conclusions and form different opinions. Studies show that when you do this you are literally forming new electrical connections in the brain, you are firing combinations of neurons that you’ve never touched before, and you’re also coming up new and different ideas about life. This means that you’re learning new things, and you’re also changing your opinions on old things. Change results in heightened social and self-awareness. Awareness comes from challenging perspectives and beliefs.
How can I start?
If you want to change your life, break those bigger changes down into a series of conscious decisions made on a daily basis. These smaller decisions are made bearing in mind your encompassing goal. Losing weight is not a result of one decision. It's a result of decisions made daily regarding food and time management that have one eating right and working out. These individual decisions eventually grow into a habit.
Recognize that cross-country changes, although sometimes required, are not always necessary. Don't think that you have to change all parts of yourself in order to grow. Start by changing certain things at one time. If you wish to date more, go out an extra night each week. If you wish to be smarter, spend an extra hour studying.
If you are one waiting for an inspiration or a moment of clarity telling you what to do, the wait is long, friend. In fact, I wouldn’t bother. Inspiration is a moving train – it doesn’t slow down for you to climb aboard. You've got to start running in the same direction as it and jump on if you want a ride.
To be different, you must do different. So many of us wish for change, yet we continue doing the same things each day; thinking the same thoughts, tolerating the same people, and accepting the same results. How can you reasonably expect change the outcome when you continually put forth the same input? Remember - to change, you must do different! You must deviate!
Einstein said that you can never solve a problem with the same mind that created it. Change becomes such when action is applied to the provoking thought. We sometimes frustrate ourselves at a lack of change without recognizing how very little we're actually changing.