Change. No, this is not an endorsement of a candidate running for the up and coming election. The word did not just recently appear in our vocabulary. That does not mean that it is not important, or that we should not discuss what it means for everyday individual lives.
If there is one thing people have difficulties implementing and handling; it is ‘change’. It is a topic of many professionals, whether they work in the health occupations, are therapists, teachers, or whatever. The topic leading to discussions around many a lunch-table. How can we support? How can we educate? How can we accommodate? How can we motivate?
When people work with people, the subject is unavoidable. Whether it be physical or emotional lifestyle problems, processes of grief, or meeting various types of crises; coping is usually quite poor. Most people seek help when the bottom is hit, and the crises has become reality, and even though they have opportunities and endless information at hand that can aid them in their ’self-responsibility’ to at least do as good of a job as they possibly can.
You need only to walk to your refrigerator and cupboard to find information about preventative health measures, placed on the many food containers. You need only turn on the television, and the same is brought into your home. Sit down at the computer, and vasts amounts of information is at your fingertips.
Education and information have been priorities in preventative healthcare for decades. The majority collectively nod heads, and agree. Yet, it stops for many when individual ‘doing’ needs to be implemented. I have never seen as much health information spread to the public, as I have in the US. Yet, the term, ‘Sedentary Death Syndrome’ is now coined to describe the trend of younger generations of children that will not outlive their parent generations. This is only one tiny example in a sea of many.
Couples head for separation and divorce, and the numbers are staggering. People are dissatisfied, disgruntled, and in conflict. The last time I took a look, second marriages were ending at a rate of 65% and higher within the first five years of marriage in many Western countries. No, it does not necessarily get any easier the second time around. Children picking up mindsets of negativity, and learning how to cope with non-coping skills, are the outcomes. Their sense of self-worth and peace affected by economic constraints, long after divorces are finalized.
Individuals plagued with melancholy, mild and serious depressions, moodswings, disharmony, and dissatisfaction. Life should offer more, should be more, and be better. Envy thrives with all that it leads to, among of which, you can find behaviors of gossip, and back-talking others. These of course, also happen for other reasons as well, yet envy allows insecurity to replace pro-active attitudes. Wanting better is not a ‘negative’, and it is certainly not synonymous with unthankfulness. They are entirely different subjects. Wanting more or better is the first step in implementing change, and allowing something new to happen.
In working with people, it is not difficult to foresee the outcome of a path decided upon. Neither is it difficult to see how that same future changes, with the most subtle of changes implemented. Yet, the word ’subtle’ is a keyword in this equation. It is all a process, and heading towards those outcomes are filled with subtle signs. Most everyday lives are exactly that. They are average, everyday lives.
As a Nurse, I could inform people of which path they were headed down, inform and teach to help them become knowledgeable, support their process toward change, and accommodate with everything in my power. However, it is always fruitless if people do not see, or are willing to accept that change is needed, and that other outcomes can be prevented. Such is every field that deals in helping people, and no matter what the subject is about. Nor is it isolated to people that find themselves in the muddy waters of crises. It encompasses each, and every life.
People know that information and help are easily found. People mentally agree with a lot of things. People can even really want something else inside, and even though they do not express it to their environments. Yet, not many begin with the ‘doing’. They want to, but they don’t want to.
I know what I know about the subject. But, I would like to hear some shouts, your take, and your opinion. What stops many from implementing the first small steps? What gets in the way?
©Tamera Daun, www.pentad.no
Pentad
Change is one of the hardest things that anyone can do. I think it is our fear of what may happen that cripples our decisions. Pentad.. I can’t think of anything else to say that you haven’t covered. I LOVE your blog.
Danielle
It is amazing the divorce rate that our society has.
Schedules and demands from outside have a great deal to do with whether one implements change or not. I know that I need to exercise more but my schedule is not conducive to a regular regiment. This can be as great as the fear of change mentioned above.
I embrace change. It is part of my work. I review procedures and recommend changes to increase productivity. Yet, I find it hard to change those things in my life that are in need of it.
My personal experience and observations is that people are resistant to change because they fear the outcomes, even if there is nothing to fear. It is all too often irrational, such as a smoker who won’t quit, because he won’t know what to do with himself when he’s not smoking. As strange as that is, it is nonetheless a powerful fear, one that cannot be overcome, except in the face of a greater fear, such as getting cancer.
Well this definitely goes well with my post!
What struck a chord with me the most in this post was the last bit, I know that’s definitely what applies to me. I mentally know what’s best for me, but its the doing it.
What really got me on the path of changing the aspects of myself that I don’t like? Well I have to say this counselling diploma is a big part of it, but only the fact that I have literally put my heart and soul into it. I think that’s how much you have to want it, if you want something to change.
Its easier to come to that conclusion than it is to pass on this enthusiasm for change to someone else, because you can’t promise that they will be any happier for it.
sorry for rambling
@danielle. Fear does seem to stop many. If we think about it, even the smallest of changes can cause most of us to freeze up.
@angela. It’s frightening. Not so much perhaps for the adults, if that’s what they really want. There are just so many kids that feel that they don’t get a ’say’ in it. It is the kind of change that is not self-chosen, and we seem to handle change that is self-chosen much better.
@robbiefritz. I love those words, “embrace change”. There’s such positivity in them!
@marc..yes. Even the threat of cancer isn’t enough sometimes, as many think it will never happen to them.
@claire. Yeah, we really have to want it, and even for the smallest of things. The self-chosen part is so important!!
Thanks to everyone for stopping by!
This post spoke to me because right now I’m going through some personal changes but it took me over 2 years to get up the nerve to do it.
It’s often times scary because it is new and uncertain where as staying where you are even if you are miserable is familiar even if you aren’t happy at least you know where you are.
Great, inspirational post! Thank You!
Hi Tamera, thanks for stopping by at Buzzing with Ange!
I believe change becomes difficult because of the unknown. Fear creeps in and it does take a certain something to get you to choose to move on and do something different. I know of some people so grappled by fear that they react badly to change and go downhill. I much rather like to think of change as a challenge and although it may take some time for new habits to form, most of the time, I have found them to be of great value.
Great post!
A simple Law of Physics appears to be appropos here–covers the mental as well as the physical: a body at rest tends to stay that way. Physically it’s called laziness. Mentally it’s called procrastination.
@cyn. Exactly! We know where we are, but we don’t know where we will arrive.
@angesbiz. It’s so important to change those habits in small increments, isn’t it?
@Jack. A body at rest tends to stay that way. Can be good for us, and other times not. Eh?