Lesson 6 – Change. Do things differently

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results - Albert Einstein
I touched briefly about change in Lesson 5. However it is a topic that I think deserves more – it is a lesson that was learned with much research and guidance.

As Einstein put it, doing the same thing over and over, expecting the same results is exactly the definition of insanity. How can the same task, same action and same routine yield different results? When you want something different to happen in life, love or work, do you not have to do something different? Do you not have to change routine, change habit – do something different to obtain a different result? When you want to achieve something at work that you have never done, a new position or role, do you not have to then change and start amending your life to that new role? To you not have to learn and grow and become that which you want to become eventually?

Change is required from all of us, on a daily basis. Our views, opinions and even our characters get shaped and altered every day – without us even knowing. Situation can inspire change, the need to adapt to fit into surroundings. Change is everywhere, and if you chose to ignore it, if you chose to stay the same person always – then you will remain the same person, in the same life, in the same surroundings and environment for your whole life. There will be nothing different, because nothing has been allowed to change. If your marriage / relationship is failing, yet you keep doing the same things, the same actions and steps – how will it ever be different? It will continue to fail.

Change is something that most people I have encountered, do not take very well. Some are very open to change, however, are only willing to change in certain aspects of their life, but not others. I do not believe that morals, values and beliefs should change daily – those are fundamental to our existence and substance of our soul. That being said they are not immovable objects and a change for the positive, I would personally, encourage. Do not fear change, embrace it. To not hide from change, run from change or try and be in control of change – allow it to happen, allow yourself to grow and become a better person. Never be afraid to admit your flaws, to see inside yourself and know what you are doing wrong – then have the courage to change those things. What is the harm? A bit of a bruised ego maybe, but eventually that too will be bolstered when you become an even better person than before.

In work, friendship, relationships and even parenthood, you give and get given constant feedback on behavior, quality of work etc. Constructive criticism is the only way you learn to become someone else. Do not crumble when given feedback, to not mope or cry or feel useless, stand proud and stand tall and accept the feedback and understand that it will only make you a better person if you chose to change. If you do not accept the feedback given by a manager on your work/behaviour, you cannot expect to get advancement, can you? No, a company is not going to give someone an opportunity if they do not show the potential to change and grow. If a partner tells you that your actions are hurting them, and you chose not to change that action, what will the result be? More hurt.

The change that you become is the future that you can have. It is an endless possibility, an endless amount of futures that are ahead of you. Your change as quickly as you make a decision, which changes your future. Just think about how many decisions you make on a daily basis? How many of those are changing you and effecting your future? Is that future the one that you want? Is that decision the right one for you? The minute that you desire something that you have never had, that loving relationship that you crave, that dream job, that house in the Hamptons – you have to change, do things differently to achieve that goal. Change yourself for the better, let go of the past, let go of the ego and comfort zone of what you knew and change to achieve that goal.

Change is truly the only constant in life.

How are you doing to change today, to make tomorrow better? To make yourself better?

Just remember, nothing changes, if nothing changes.