We have come to the next step toward Transformation, a willingness to change. Everyone has something they would like to change about themselves or their lives. A person may come to acknowledge that a problem exists and that change is need. They might further surmise that they do indeed have the wherewithal to change. These are steps one and two toward a transformation. Yet many will stop here by refusing to change. Instead of “I will” it is “I won’t.”
The reasons for this are many and varied. One can get comfortable, even in a rut. Climbing out of the rut takes energy, energy to research, to learn, to invent, to build, to manage, to work toward meaningful change. No one will never be able to transform their life into their own preferred future with an attitude of “I won’t.” Saying I won’t is a non-starter, a compass without direction, a road without a beginning, a book with no words.
Clearly stated, you must make a commitment to yourself that you will do what is necessary to change, to transform your life. The “I won’t do this” or “I won’t do that” must be swapped for “I will do this” and “I will do that” if it means that you will be able to create your own preferred future.
I recently had a patient in my office who was struggling on many levels. Every sound and prudent course of action that I suggested which would have helped her situation, very simple solutions really, were rejected outright with “I can’t do that.” She then gave me a list of reasons as to why she couldn’t take any of my advice. In the end, she just wanted a pill, something to fix her broken life and make everything better. Medicine or no, I predict her struggles will continue for years to come unless she profoundly changes her approach to living.
That is what I have been talking about here, profound change, a transformative change. It’s not about becoming another person, or trying to become someone different, someone you are not. It is about being you but re-defined. It’s about getting back to the real you, the one that got lost somewhere along the way. The you that is able to accomplish anything to which you apply your will and your mind. It’s about regaining that child-like sense of wonder, when everything seemed exciting and nothing seemed impossible because the possibilities were endless. When you transform, you will believe and know these things once more.
How you will think about yourself, how you will look at people and situations will be decidedly different. Just as they say in a 12-Step recovery program, your whole attitude and outlook on life will change. You will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle you. You will come to know a new freedom and a new happiness and you will know peace. These are not idle promises. I have seen them come true in my own life and in the lives of countless others.
Are you ready to say I will do whatever it takes to change my circumstances, my life? If you have acknowledged that your life is not what you want it to be and that change is needed, feel you have the power to change and also a willingness to change then you have completed the first three steps of Transformation. Please return for the next post in this series on Transformation when I will present your next step forward.