Chapter 16,
When Change Chooses You.
If you have the time to read the books and review the studies on change management,
You will find a long list of theories and processes.
Some researchers have studied behavior patterns and found ways to duplicate results when managing change.
All the findings have their merits and validate the need to understand how we change.
I believe it's important to remember that human behavior is somewhat unpredictable.
However,
As people come from different backgrounds,
Education and beliefs,
Change management may not always pan out as planned.
I see change as an evolving process.
This is something I've gleaned from my personal experience of change.
My observation of the women in my circles,
My teams,
Friends and family,
And the spiritual understanding I learned from the teachers and masters I studied with.
The change process changes based on your proximity to your truth.
The closer you are to unfolding your fears,
The faster and more successful you will be at changing when you're ready.
It may seem like change has chosen you and not the other way around.
Change picks you when your plan B is eliminated and you have no more control.
It's like change says,
This is the only way.
Congratulations,
Change has chosen you.
In the next five chapters,
I will introduce you to the five paths of change to help you in your journey through life.
The five paths of change are designed to introduce change with minimum discomfort and at a pace that can be sustained permanently.
They are,
Number one,
Intention.
Number two,
Truth.
Number three,
Scheduling.
Number four,
Action.
And number five,
Celebration,
Recognition.
They are simple steps to help you create a sustainable map to uncover your self-trust,
Cure your burnout and live for your own purpose.
But before you dive into them,
I invite you to open your heart to discover how you feel about change.
Life jacket,
Know your relationship with change.
Spend a few minutes alone and answer the following questions.
How do you feel about change?
Do you hate change?
Do you get angry when things change?
Do you get upset when plans change?
Are you often on time?
Do you dislike people who are late for events?
Do you complain when the rules change?
How do you react when you need to change an agreement with someone?
How do you feel when others change plans on you?
People who detest change don't want to lose control,
Even if their feeling of control isn't real.
They tend to always be prepared and they dislike surprises.
They're usually very organized and changes may disturb their sense of organization.
They're great planners and often ahead of schedule.
They're always looking for more efficient ways to do things and they seek consistency in all they do.
In fact,
They place great value in anticipating things that could go wrong just for the sake of harmony in their lives.
I hope that if you see any of these characteristics in yourself,
You won't judge yourself for them or feel you have to defend yourself.
None of this is a reason for judgment,
But simply an opportunity for greater awareness.
The world benefits from having people like you and me around.
My intent is just for you to realize that resisting change can make you rigid.
Of course,
You won't lose your grip on these beliefs overnight.
You may not want to change the way you've been for 20,
30,
40,
Or even 70 years.
Unfortunately,
If you avoid change,
The expectations for your life are unrealistic.
So I invite you to become aware of your personal relationship with change.
Do you avoid it at all costs?
Or are you,
On the other hand,
Too quick to change?
There's no right or wrong relationship with change,
But there is your truth.
Your awareness of it will help you open up and give yourself more room to be patient and kind to yourself.
Your acceptance of how you really feel about the unknown and the level of discomfort you experience when things change will help create a new paradigm in your life.
What if the change you are avoiding is the one that gives you wings?
Unknown.
