How Does Change Happen?
I am frequently asked…
“How have you got to where you are? How do you implement the changes you want to see in your life and in yourself?”
Awareness, The Choice to Want to Change and Reminders.
Change, like most of us, does not come easy to me. I’m not a hater of change, I like being kept on my toes because if I’m changing for the better, that means I’m growing more and more into the person I’m meant to be. Truly Me.
Change is a regular thing. I read something and I want to implement it into my life.
In my life change happens by becoming aware of a change I want to see, deciding to want to change, then reminding myself of the changes I want to make and that in turn reminds me to implement.
For example, I was reading a book the other day and I came across a quote that pulled on my heart strings. When that happens, I KNOW it’s something I need to give more time too. Time to dwell, time to question, time to write, time to sit, time to implement. That time is very much worth it. When I start to see myself change it’s a time of celebration and when others comment on the change, that’s cause for another celebration!! Change accomplished!! It can take anywhere from a week to years to see and notice the change.
Awareness:
When I notice something that pulls on my heart strings, I become aware of something.
Awareness is the key to change.
I tell my clients, friends, family and colleagues that all the time. Awareness is the key to change. If you are not aware of something then you continue life as normal. When you become aware, you receive the agency to begin to make change.
Do I want to Change?
This is the next step. If you don’t want to change then you will not change. Awareness is the beginning of change and from there it’s your choice. If you decide you want to take action on the awareness you now have that is all it needs for the change to begin.
Reminders:
Lastly, I don’t believe change just happens. I think you need to work at it and often the parts that need changing the most are our thought patterns. Our brain pathways need reforming and retraining. I’ve heard people say ‘you just need to change your thoughts’. I never understood that because I thought ‘how am I supposed to just remember to think differently?’ Then I decided that my brain and I needed reminders. So I started sticking reminders around my house. Sometimes on sticky notes, other times on big pieces of paper. I’d stick one in my bedroom (so it was the first thing I saw in the morning), in my office (so when I’d got distracted it would bring me back), in my bathroom (because that’s somewhere I reflect on the day and who I’m going to see and meet), on my fridge (because that’s where all reminders go!) and finally, I now have two whiteboards hanging in my house. This is where I write inspiring quotes to keep me going, on one I also have a to-do list and sometimes both will be for reminders and inspiration of different things.
Awareness. The Desire to Want to Change. Reminders. Awareness. The Desire to Want to Change. Reminders. Awareness… and so on. It’s a continual cycle. When we are reminded, it comes back into our awareness. At this point we choose again if we still want to change. Then we need to remind ourselves to do it. I call it the cycle of change.
Go forth and take the journey.
Journeez, is located in North Eastern Suburbs of Adelaide and are specialists in Self Care and learning to look after yourself in this fast-paced society. Please contact me today for further information about Self Care workshops and seminars for businesses, churches or community groups or to book a counselling or mentoring appointment. You are also welcome to join the Journeez community by subscribing to this blog above or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Discovering Life to the Fullest.
