All change starts with a change of mind. You have to start by changing your thoughts about want you want to change.
“I'm interested in talking to people and dealing with people who are set and ready for change and action. Who get it. And who are looking for solutions.
Tarana Burke
Change your mind and the rest will follow!
All change starts with a change of mind. You have to start by changing your thoughts about want you want to change. Constantly trying to change behaviour will rarely create long term and lasting change. In changing the way you think about something you immediately change your perception and consequently the way you feel about it.
“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
George Bernard Shaw
Change, at least on the surface, often carries a negative connotation due to our innate desire for comfort. This stems from our natural tendency to gravitate towards familiarity and that which we know. When we can successfully navigate the various unknowns that hold new experiences, we can achieve a sense of relaxation in ourselves. This is because our brains have been designed to process information with meaning attached; this applies even when we are presented with something completely unfamiliar to us. Therefore, any time we step out of our comfort zones and dive into something new, our minds will always remain slightly uneasy.
While there is comfort in the familiar and predictable, our brains and bodies also find excitement in facing new experiences. Exploring unknowns pushes us out of our safety zones and forces us to examine our surroundings more closely. The unfamiliar can be uncomfortable because it requires us to diligently process so much new information to make sense out of it. To help ease this process, we rely on programmed responses from our built-in nervous system that serves to sharpen our cognitive awareness. We refine the details of these patterns over time as we become fully acclimated to the different circumstances that come along with the unknowns. This way, even minor changes in routine or situations can still be managed effectively. In essence, our brains and bodies have evolved to seek out a comfortable balance between the familiar and unfamiliar; through a combination of repetition and exploration, one informs the other in order to continually fuel future growth.
Becoming aware of our thought patterns and the potential for change is key to progress. We all have deep rooted experiences and associations that shape how we automatically respond in certain situations, making it challenging to shake up old belief systems. Understanding the process behind change requires us to remind ourselves that what once felt uncomfortable can become comfortable with new perspectives and behaviors. It may feel strange or awkward doing things differently at first, but eventually this change will start to feel natural as we form new patterns of thinking. Share so it becomes easier over time to cultivate the positive changes needed in order to reach any desired outcome.
Growth is essential for humans and it can sometimes feel uncomfortable; this is the price one must pay for it. We have all experienced the satisfaction of expanding our comfort zone, taking risks and experimenting with uncharted territories - this creates a sense of satisfaction that we don't usually gain from safe activities within our comfort zone. Put simply, by pushing ourselves beyond where we are comfortable, remarkable new opportunities become available to us and we start to bring out our hidden potentials and capabilities. True fulfillment which brings genuine "good" feeling stems from embracing discomfort, growing as an individual, learning new information and making room for positive change in life.
Change is constant and ever-evolving, making it difficult to stay still and control life as we know it. However, actively initiating change within ourselves is a critical part of personal growth and progress. This can often be uncomfortable at first, but the skills, knowledge, and maturity that are gained in the process far outweigh any initial apprehension we may feel. Understanding the importance of proactively directing our own changes will give us the power to transform our lives in ways that help access our true potential. Taking conscious control of our destinies can be daunting but ultimately, it is up to all of us to direct our lives and forge ourselves into the person we imagine ourselves being.
All change starts with a change of mind. You have to start by changing your thoughts about what you want to change. In changing the way you think about something you immediately change your perception and consequently the way you feel about it. When you change the way you feel you change your behavior and that is how you progress. Constantly trying to change behavior will rarely create long term and lasting change. Change your mind and the rest will follow! If you don't change then you simply won't grow and if you don't grow you are not really living.
We face change's challenges every day,
Our comfort it does not delay.
It forces us out of our routines and more;
To grow we must step outside the door.
By embracing new ways to act and think,
We have space for growth before us to sink.
Taking chances offers hope anew-
A chance which will be beneficial too!