Daily Handy Tips

We’re all resistant to change - even when we know that we need a major upheaval. Fear of the unknown can take over us - fear that things might actually get worse, not better, and that the price for change might be just too big.

But the fear holding us back is usually no more than an imaginary barrier that we’ve envisioned in our mind. To knock down this barrier, we need to massively outweigh the negative obstacles we’ve created, and replace them with even bigger reasons to move our lives forward.

Look at this mathematical formula for change: D x V + F is gerater than R …namely… Dissatisfaction x Vision + First Steps is greater than Resistance to Change.

Our reasons for doing something have to become bigger than our resistance to change. When we’re thinking about making changes, it’s usually because we’ve become fed up with putting up with the circumstances in our current life. Whether it’s our career, relationships, job, lack of money - whatever we’re unhappy about, we have to break down the problem and make it a motivating force for action. In truth, we need to get down and dirty and really be honest with ourselves; life can be much more than the scraps we’re getting, and we don’t need to miss out any longer.

The power of this dissatisfaction can be multiplied by envisioning how good things will be once we’ve made the changes. To mentally focus on a life of plenty is a great feeling - we’re in control of our destiny because we took responsibility for change. Our resolve becomes stronger the more we can visualise our success.

Our minds can not hold positive and negative thoughts at the same time. So by actively focusing on positive thoughts, and simultaneously pushing out the negative ones, we strengthen our will, and weaken the power those downbeat feelings had over us.

Once we’re prepared mentally, we can start making the first moves towards change. Little, encouraging steps build confidence, and we begin to create a positive feedback loop which leads us to more action and then more confidence and self-esteem. Building on these first moves progressively overcomes and breaks down our hesitancy to change.

W N Murray, a member of the Scottish Himalayan Expedition wrote:

“…Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: That truth is, the moment one commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events occur once the decision is made, raising in ones favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.”

Similarly Goethe said, “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”

‘It’s easy to think that those who achieve in life are lucky, that somehow things were simpler for them - they had the breaks. The truth is we make our own luck, by deciding when to make a move, and then committing wholeheartedly to its execution’. This acknowledgement of the different ways we respond when there’s a need for change comes from a book written in our own time. “Who Moved My Cheese” by acclaimed author Spencer Johnson says it all.

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