Embracing Change (step 3: Resolution Revolution)

"You have two choices: either accept conditions as they are or take responsibility for changing them". -Denis Waitley

Accepting and embracing change is an important step in following through with a resolution. Most of the time, people give up because they aren't willing to fully embrace the change.

Change is difficult.

For some, change is more difficult than for others, but everyone at some point in their life, has struggled with change. Change can create fear, uncertainty, and doubt. Many of us approach change with a negative view, ignoring the positive growth that may come.

Change happens every day, all around us. Rules change, technology changes, the weather changes – our world is all about change and to survive, we must adapt and accept changes. It can be scary, but more often than not, once the mindset is adjusted to accept the change, we wonder why it took so long and forget we were ever resistant in the first place.

Perhaps the fear of change is really a fear of loss – because even "good" changes bring about loss – the loss of something familiar, the loss of autonomy, the loss of our comfort zone, the loss of a relationship.

Working on change with clients in my practice, the first step I take is convincing them that they are ready for change. I do it subtly, asking leading questions and steering them in the right direction. More often than not, I don't ever say the word change when we are in a session, because talking about change puts people on the defensive.

In our sessions, I help them to discover there are other ways of doing things, new insights to be gained, new habits to replace old, and personal growth to be experienced. We start to view change as an opportunity, to let go of things – a chance to evolve and grow – and that lessens the discomfort.

If you sit and think about all the change that has occurred in your lifetime, it's mind boggling, and you've survived all of it.

Without change growth is not possible. Unless you embrace change you can never move on. We are changing, whether we like it or not. So, this year, instead of fighting it or hiding from it, why not mindfully embrace it?

When we accept change in a mindful way, living in the present, we accept that change is just another part of our humanity. Mindfully we cherish the fact that NOTHING lasts forever. This knowing brings about a deeper appreciation for what we have and for what is still to come.

When we embrace change this way, we love harder because we know that losing is part of this life; we speak kinder, because we know words effect feelings and have consequences; and we breathe better because we know the difference between embracing the present and fearing the future. When we accept that change is inevitable and decide to control as much if it as we can, we become peaceful with the changes in life.

Change is synonymous with growth, with second chances, with new beginnings, with do-overs and exciting starts. Change means something new, unfamiliar, and vastly different is possible. Change adds adventure to our life.

It's true, sometimes change is awful. But mostly change is awful only in the beginning because you’re just not used to it. Once you settle in and embrace it, you usually discover it’s not so bad after all. Change leads you to places, to people, to opportunities, and to a life of new possibilities. It shows you ways that your life can be different from the one you had before. It shows you what kind of person you are, it builds strength and endurance, it builds character and confidence.

Change is a gift of new beginnings, of letting go. It's a way of allowing you to open your wings to fly. You may not soar at first, you might stumble and crash to the ground a few times as you learn how to flap your wings and be carried by the wind. But once you embrace it, you will take flight. Then you’ll see the world on the ground mirroring those fears back to you, tiny and insignificant, like ants.

Don't let change control you, embrace it, guide it, and take control. That's how you conquer change! That's how you make resolutions work long term.

Remember, if nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.

-Coach Bill