Change
Change definition – an act or a process in which something becomes different.
Task: Think about your life right now, the people that surround you every day, the experiences you are having and what you value in your life right now.
Now think back to 5 years ago…how different was your life? Who surrounded you then? What were you experiencing? What did you value?
Now go back 10 years…what was different to 5 years ago and today? What were you experiencing and what did you value then?
Change is a part of life
- Change is a huge part of our lives – sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s not so good, sometimes we are ready for change and sometimes we are totally unprepared for it.
- But change, no matter how small or insignificant, is one of the few things in life that is guaranteed.
- The reason I chose this topic this week is because my hope for you is that, going forward with the knowledge that change is a natural part of life, you can then use change to your advantage.
- I believe that everything happens for a reason and that life is all mapped out for us before we are born.
- This is something that you may not agree with but that’s what I believe and I have a very peaceful and content life as a result.
- If I have learned anything in my 28 years, it’s that if a change is on the horizon for you, there is no point in ignoring it
- Life is going to kick you up the backside until you make that change.
Dealing with unexpected life changes
- When we think of unexpected changes we instantly think of the Death of loved ones, parents separating or getting divorced, moving house, moving jobs, moving country, losing friends or people you once valued in your life, accidents and
- that list goes on but I want to point out that there are some unexpected changes that can be good too!
- Meeting the love of your life when you are least expecting it, making new friends, getting a new job or promotion, winning the lotto or winning anything really, all unexpected but all pretty good in that moment!
- It’s what we think about that change determines our feeling about it. When any unexpected change happens to me, I try to not judge that change right away (doesn’t always work but I try).
- When something happens that we view as “bad” we instantly start obsessing about it and we lose sight of the bigger picture and the lesson that is contained within that change.
- I believe the reason we experience so much change is to make us grow as human beings and that there is a lesson to be learned in any difficult experience or time of suffering.
- I’m not saying that it’s a good thing that somebody has died belong to you but I do believe that
- No matter how heart-breaking the loss of somebody is, there is always something to be learned from that experience,
- Appreciate the people that are left or to cherish life more and make the most of it, that’s the conclusion I have come to anyway.
Wanting others to change
- Wanting others to change really is a waste of time. Nobody is ever going to change unless they see that they need to.
- even then, they may not have the strength to make those changes and you really are setting yourself up for heartache.
- If you want to see change in your outside reality, then you need to get more in touch with your inside reality
- What I mean by that is you need to practice more awareness of your thoughts, feelings and what affects them.
- Also, exploring your beliefs and whether or not they serve you.
- Also, seeing the blessings in your life is a great place to start. Gratitude brings more of what you are grateful for into your life.
- If you are interested in doing this the book I have found most helpful with this is The Power of Now by
Being the change you would like to see
- Try to be more open minded – this in itself leads to great change in your life.
- Try to be less judgemental – don’t be so quick to judge things as good or bad, have you ever had something happen in your life that at the time you think is bad but has turned out to be a blessing.
- Take a piece of paper, sit down and write out the aspects of your life and then come up with one small step you could take right now or in the near future to make those changes happen.
- When you have that done, every day even for 2 minutes, sit down and visualise what that change would look like and feel how it would feel if that change were to happen.
- Remember – don’t expect somebody else to change just because you want them to, change yourself and others around you will change.