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?

Most people have no problem understanding that action of some sort is required to achieve their goals. However, even though they know this intellectually, they still struggle with making the progression from "knowing" to actually "doing" in their lives.

Day after day, they tell themselves they need to do something, but they continue with their usual routine.  As a result, nothing happens and the desired achievement eludes them.

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?

Ready to set some New Year’s resolutions?

Before diving into the specifics for all the goals you want to achieve, step back and take a high-level look at the year ahead.  What kind of year are you anticipating? 

Taking a big picture view of the year ahead provides valuable context to help you prioritize as you develop your goals. 

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.

A common maxim is that it takes 30 days to form a new habit.  If true, it should be fairly easy to get new behaviours to stick.  After all, if you can stick with something for 30 days, supposedly you're all set after that.  But is it really true?  Is 30 days all it takes to form new habits and turn things around?

While there is indeed some truth to this, the reality is a little more complicated.  

We've all been at that place where we need a little bit of inspiration, something to breathe fresh life into us and lift our spirits.  A bit of inspiration at the right time can leave you feeling refreshed and renewed, focused and ready to tackle whatever lies ahead.
 
Here are some tried-and-true ways to find inspiration when you need it most.

We've all gone through periods when we felt tired, stuck, or unmotivated.  Your energy is down, and simply getting through each day may feel like a challenge.  Pushing yourself to take action during these times can be difficult, yet this is often precisely what's needed to start turning things around.   
 
In her book I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was, Barbara Sher emphasizes the importance of action when you're feeling stuck.  She also makes the connection between action and luck.  In short, your willingness to take some type of action directly influences the amount of good luck that comes your way.
 
Sher provides four good reasons for taking action, even when you're unclear about what you want or feeling unmotivated. 

Barbara Sher (14 August 1935 – 10 May 2020) was more than a successful therapist, author, career counselor, and public speaker.  She was a kind, compassionate, warm, and caring human being who shared generously from her wealth of knowledge, wisdom and insight.

Sher's expertise, creativity, and great sense of humour all contributed to her appeal.  But what made her so magnetic was her love for people and deep desire to see them reach their full potential.  Sher was passionate about helping people live rich, joyful, and fulfilling lives.  She was devoted to helping people overcome obstacles on the way to achieving their dreams.