Is change good, bad, or something else entirely?

Embrace change! Change is good! Change is progress! We’re surrounded by a constant celebration of change that’s hard to avoid or ignore. But is change really so wonderful? Many proclaim it is, doing so with passion and conviction. Meanwhile, you have folks standing on the other side of the fence who shun change, resisting it every step of the way. Most of us have experience standing on both sides of that metaphorical fence at different times in our life.

Whether you deem change to be good or bad, there’s no denying it can be intense, encompassing far more than you were aiming for, envisioning, or anticipating. The following excerpt vividly captures that intensity and that element of the unexpected which change inherently possesses:

As with so many things in life, the question of whether change is good or bad is complicated, layered, nuanced, and multifaceted. It certainly isn’t a simple either-or question. In fact, framing the question as good or bad kind of misses the mark right from the get-go, when it begs to be explored from so many other angles.

Continue reading at Seeking Veritas – Blank Pages to Bold Voices

People are constantly setting all kinds of goals; that's the easy part. But when it comes time to follow through on those goals, that's the stage where they often get stuck. Even with the best of intentions and a sincere effort, you may feel like you're fighting an uphill battle as you struggle to see your goal through to completion. 
 
The inability to successfully reach a desired goal isn't just frustrating and disheartening. It can lead to a loss of confidence, making you shrink back from pursuing other goals in future. But what if the problem isn't you?  What if the problem isn't some inherent shortcoming on your part, but rather you simply haven't found the right approach for pursuing your goal?

​No-one enjoys feeling conflicted about something transpiring in their life. In addition to being a confusing, frustrating, and draining experience; it can also become a major distraction as you find yourself spending time going back and forth in an attempt to gain clarity. 
 
Fortunately, there are things you can do to begin bringing some much-needed clarity.  The following steps will help you resolve the conflict you're facing, so you feel energized and equipped to move forward with confidence.

You know the feeling: you want to move forward with your plans, but something is holding you back.  You might be struggling to identify exactly what it is and where it's coming from.  But it's there, that nagging feeling of being unsettled that's keeping you from going full steam ahead. 
 
What you're encountering is resistance.  It may be frustrating and confusing while you're experiencing it, but it's actually a good thing!  It's an important safety mechanism; you're being alerted that things aren't quite lining up the way they need to.  The next step?  Taking a closer look to determine why things aren't lining up.
 
There are an infinite number of reasons why you may be encountering resistance; here are three of the most common ones.

How many times have you committed to a new goal (or recommitted to an old one) with a fresh burst of energy and enthusiasm, only to find yourself getting derailed somewhere along the way?  You encounter an obstacle that throws you off course, and your efforts come to a halt.

All that confidence and enthusiasm you started off with fades away, replaced with frustration and discouragement.  As those feelings intensify and gain a deeper foothold, many people wind up abandoning their goals entirely.  How do you avoid this scenario?

Your feelings are part of an amazing and powerful communication system designed to guide and protect you.  While you don't want to be trapped, controlled, or incapacitated by your feelings, you do want to be aware of them and cognizant of what you're experiencing at any given time.

That awareness enables you to assess what's going on in your life so you can choose how best to respond. 
 
As you strive to become more attuned to your feelings, here are seven feelings you should never ignore.

You drag your feet.  You procrastinate.  Perhaps you have a big job to complete and you feel overwhelmed, unsure of how to get started.  Perhaps you have an unpleasant task before you and you would simply rather not deal with it. 

Then there are those times when the task you're facing is neither all that big, nor particularly difficult or unpleasant.  Nevertheless, you still find yourself putting it off day after day.

There's a stability and inner calm that comes with feeling like you're on top of things.  Who wouldn't want to feel this way?  Yet so many people don't feel this way at all.  Instead, they're busy, rushed, and stressed, as they struggle to keep up with everything going on. 

When you're already stretched, it doesn't take much to knock you off balance and throw you off course.  Even something minor can be overwhelming and difficult to deal with.  
 
Here are three reasons why you're feeling busy, rushed, and stressed; and how you can start turning things around.