Ready For A Change?

By Nicole Irlbeck

“For a (wo)man to conquer self is the first and noblext of all victories”- Plato

Reflecting on 2009, we evaluate the year for our highs and lows, the wins, the losses, the joys and the heartaches.  Regardless of the outcome, we look toward January each year with a fresh hope for a chance to live our lives more on our terms.  It is easy to wonder what life would have been….if only.    Rather than spend time obsessing, regretting, blaming, or growing increasingly bitter over what might have been (since we can’t go back and create a new beginning anyway), the new year gives all of us the opportunity to sculpt a new ending.

Our days are filled with habitual tasks and duties that we rarely even think much about.   These habits are formed by our decisions, which are founded on our attitudes, and our attitudes are based on our beliefs.  It is often in our small mundane decision making that we make the most profound and lasting changes on our lives and the lives of others.

What is it that you want to change in your life?  It is easy to say, “I want to lose 15 pounds” or “I want more control over my time so I am not so crazy everyday”.  But what will ultimately help you to be ready to make changes in your habits and life?  Take a few moments this new year to answer the following questions as they relate to your goals for change:   

    •    Why is this change important to you?

    •    What do you hope the change will give you when you reach it?

    •    Can you visualize your life with the changes in place?  If so, cultivate this image and bring it to mind each time you are tempted to revert back to your old ways.

    •    Are there things you will have to give up to make the change, if so, what are you willing to sacrifice?

    •    What are the things, people, or circumstances in the past that have kept you from change?  If identifiable, list some ways you can enlist support to get beyond these road blocks.

    •    How can you celebrate the small wins along the way?   In other words, how will you know you are making progress, and what will your reward be for each small step forward?

This is just a start, but as we look toward the what, the why, and the how, the when is no longer the issue.  We begin to cultivate a positive attitude based on a strong belief that we can make small changes each day that will ultimately lead to the ending we desire.   ?