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Change Is a Life or Death Matter

Written by: Les Brown

Article Overview: People resist change, even when it's beneficial. Even when we try to make a difference, too often we do not succeed. Perhaps the problem lies in the starting point. Change begins when we begin to refocus our own awareness. All personal and professional change is an inside job.

Change Is a Life or Death Matter

In the May, 2005 issue of Fast Company magazine, the lead article was entitled "Change or Die". It contained some pretty scary statistics. It seems that over 90% of all people who have been told that their medical condition requires them to change their personal habits -- or else -- either fail to change them at all, or, within a short time, revert back to their old habits.
Research is showing that, in order for real change to occur, it must be presented to the implementer in terms that are "simple, easy to identify with, emotionally resonant, and evocative of positive experiences." Furthermore, continues the article, the change effort needs to be "positive, inspiring, and emotionally resonant." The goal is to bring reflection, emotional intelligence (EQ) and even spiritual intelligence (SQ) into arenas where, until recently, they were at best suspect, and, at worst unwelcome.
Finally, the article presents data that shows that gradual, incremental change just doesn't work. Real (that is: purposeful) change requires something more. Change that works, change that "sticks" is most often what we call "quantum change". Quantum change is what shakes us out of our comfort zone and our habitual routines; it catapults us into a new vision, a new direction, and a new way of life.
It’s a fine thing to have these deep thoughts and to see new connections among the disparate facets of our perception. It’s exhilarating to experience new realizations for the first time. When that happens in our heads (or in our hearts) it may cause tiny ripples around us in the pool of our lives. That’s not enough. That’s not the earthquake we call quantum change. We all have insights that can be transformative, but what can we do to leverage them to truly make a difference?
The first lesson that anyone who wishes to create purposeful change needs to learn is that change is not an option. Try as you might, you can’t stop it or turn it back. The one constant in life is change, so we have to work with it rather than in opposition to it. In addition, the starting point for changing the world is changing yourself. That’s where you have to start if you want to become an effective person and a successful professional. It’s not begging the question; and it’s useless to ask impatiently, “When will I get to do make some real changes?” I assure you: the quantum changes start when you start changing yourself.

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Article Tags: change effort, comfort zone, emotional intelligence, facets, implementer, incremental change, lead article, medical condition, new direction, new vision, old habits, personal habits, purposeful change, quantum change, realizations, ripples, scary statistics, spiritual intelligence, these deep thoughts, way of life



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