“Without change, progress is impossible, and those who are incapable of changing their ideas are incapable of changing anything.”
SHAW, GEORGE BERNARD
For the majority of individuals, change carries a negative connotation. On a fundamental emotional level, we are creatures of habit and are drawn to what feels good in the present. We need comfort, which is typically found in what we already know; in what is familiar to us. Once we can easily deal with and “know” all of the “unknowns,” we can “relax” – since your nervous system and mind are wired to seek out and assign meaning(s) to everything, everything new is always a clash between what IS and what WILL BE in your mind.
Never be afraid of the unknown
The unknown is always something that your mind and nervous system must “unravel” again, and this process is inherently unpleasant on several levels. When something gets comfortable, you become accustomed to it as all the “unknowns” are removed, and your natural behavior can resume control. Our neurological system is mainly conditioned, and via repetition, we become aware of and assume regular patterns. This system is truly there to assist us in being more efficient and capable of accomplishing more with less.
Emotions are associated with specific experiences
Your mind is wired to continually seek the shortest path. We learn specific orders and sequences in which things occur via repetition, and we learn to identify and respond to these orders and sequences. Each emotion, for example, is the consequence of a series of events and reactions prompted by your unconscious consciousness, which develops and creates the real sensation in your neurological system.
To alter anything, it is necessary to first become conscious of these patterns. You must develop an awareness of what occurs underneath the surface of conscious consciousness. This is not difficult to accomplish, and anyone can do it. You do not need to be an expert in the human nervous system to utilize it. Simply be conscious that there is a part of you that reacts and behaves “automatically” in response to your previous experiences and memories.
Make the unpleasant bearable
The difficulty comes in transitioning from one pattern, one that does not serve you, to another that does. You would actually have to change your thinking in the sense that you would have to alter your perception of yourself and your life. At first, doing things differently may seem unpleasant, but be assured that the “uncomfortable” will become “comfortable” as you begin to build new connections and patterns of association.
Making the “uncomfortable” comfortable or the “unknown” known is how we develop as human beings. What you are at ease with symbolizes your comfort zone, which encompasses all of the situations that you are capable of handling easily. If you do not extend this “zone,” you will simply not expand as a person.
The requirement for expansion
The desire to develop and improve as a person is a primal emotional urge shared by all individuals. Without development, you will never be content. While all development is unpleasant in the short term, it is always enormously satisfying in the long run, and it is this sensation that we all seek; the sensation we refer to as “good.” While remaining with what you know may feel easy and “good” in the moment, genuine fulfillment comes from pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone and developing a feeling of pride in yourself. Growth entails change, and change entails risk, which is the process by which one moves from the familiar to the unknown.
The reality is that all of life is continuously changing. Nothing ever remains constant. It is inherent in all life, including yours. Even if you take no action, life will continue to change. To advance, you must decide to deliberately begin and generate change. You must intentionally position yourself in an uncomfortable situation in order to grow, and when you do so, you progress. Progress is voluntary, whereas change occurs automatically. To regain control of your life, you must make a conscious decision to change and to continue evolving in order to become the person you desire.
Produce long-lasting change
All transformation begins with a shift of perspective. You must begin by altering your perceptions of the situation you wish to alter. By altering your perspective on something, you alter your perception and, subsequently, your feelings about it. When you alter your feelings, you alter your actions, which is how you develop. Constantly attempting to alter behavior seldom results in long-lasting change. Change your thinking and the rest will take care of itself! If you do not change, you will not grow, and if you do not develop, you will not truly live.
