Committing to change

I love the work I do. I help people with change. One of the recurring themes that comes up for folks is “getting stuck” in the process of change.

I would invite you, if you are feeling stuck, to consider your commitment to making the changes you espouse to desire so much. Perhaps you want a different outcome,  better health, more energy, better relationships, more financial mindfulness.

Once a goal worthy of your energy has been established, find out who has done it well (reached the goal without sacrificing other important parts of his or her life, and continues to model adherence to the new program).

Imagine commitment on a continuum from absolutely no change on one end, don’t care in the middle, and it has to change on the other end. If you want change, you DON’T want to be in the middle. You want to be committed like the building is on fire and you are in it. Don’t be crazy, but MOVE! Give it 100%, there is urgency and fear driving your behavior. Well, if you are seeking professional help for change, it is a big deal! Get some urgency. If the consequences of no change are dire, get scared!

If you aren’t following the prescription you originally agreed was the vehicle to the new outcome, you aren’t giving in to the process of change.

Perhaps attachment to something about the old way is getting in the way of doing what you know you need to for a different outcome. Some attachments turn out to be organically based. So if you keep relapsing into old behaviors, something environmental may be triggering the relapse or an unmet emotional or physical need could be the culprit.

Take time to analyze what’s missing or new to trigger such behaviors. I am speaking very generally because the information can apply to food, money, sex, drugs, interpersonal conflict, shoplifting, or other problem behaviors. Sometimes the equation is quite complex and professional help is warranted.

However, if committed, you will not rest until you exhaust all solutions available. That means following through with “the prescription” before giving up on your goal.