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Is Change Really That Difficult? 

Many people are facing life threatening situations and still will not embrace new behaviors that could save their lives.  Many people dread getting up five days out of the week because they hate their jobs, yet they refuse to look for a new one. Many couples elect to live in an unhappy home environment and refuse to make changes that could lead to happiness. The guests on today’s show offered some interesting insights regarding why many of us find it difficult to change even when it could be the best thing for us and lead to happiness and success. Check out their brief bios and read their prescription for how we can take the “Difficulty” out of “Change” and start moving closer to living the life we desire and deserve.

Taking the “Difficulty” out of “Change” begins with thinking differently about change.  You must first embrace the fact that it is normal to feel uncomfortable when you step out of your comfort zone or have to let go of something you want to hold on to.  These thoughts and feelings are on “autopilot.”

So the next thing you must do is start reprogramming those thoughts on autopilot.  How do you do this?  By making a conscious effort to find everything positive that could result from your situation.  Write them down so you can access them when you need to.  Say them out loud the moment the negative thoughts begin to surface and focus on the positive benefits every time.

Now, instead of focusing on what you have to endure or give up, which makes “Change” appear difficult, you will now be focusing on the positive benefits you will derive, and “Change” will gradually become more exciting and exhilarating!

 Change appears to be difficult because as children we were conditioned to believe that stepping outside of our comfort zone for any reason, was uncomfortable.

We learned to feel a sense of loss when we had to let go of things we were not ready to release.

These feelings and behaviors about change are now on “autopilot” and part of our subconscious minds.  The very moment that change becomes necessary, our immediate reaction is to view it as negative and difficult, even before we’ve had a chance to think it through.  Often times, we never think about it at all, we simply react.

So what should we do?  We must learn to disassociate change with difficulty.  Taking the difficulty out of change begins with thinking differently about change.  How do we start thinking differently about change?  We start thinking differently about change by making a conscious effort some important steps:

9 Steps To Take The Difficulty Out Of Change

1. Pause when confronted with change.
2. Find quiet time to think about what has to change.
3. Think about and/or write down everything positive that could result from the change.
4. Make the list accessible so you can access them when you begin to feel negative or overwhelmed by the change.
5. Speak them out loud the moment the negative thoughts begin to surface.
6. Practice focusing on the positive benefits every time.
7. Get creative.
8. Have the courage to ask for help.
9. Pray to God to change your outlook.

Now, instead of focusing on the negative aspect of what you have to endure or give up, which makes change appear difficult, you will now be focusing on the positive benefits you will derive, and change will gradually become less difficult and more exciting!