5 May 2014
The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same
Some people seem to thrive on change. Every day is a new
'something'. Exercise regime, University degree, house plant. Big
or small, change is their drug. While this to me screams 'I have
untreated ADHD!' , You have to admire the enthusiasm.
Perhaps the manic nature in which these information gatherers
and fad followers embrace change holds a few lessons the rest of us
could afford to learn.
Let's begin with an entirely relevant admission. I adore
routine. I like to know where I need to be and when. I like to put
things in the same place so that I don't spend my time crying
relentlessly about where my phone charger is. But I also like to do
something new every year. An Ironman. Lanscaping the house. Adding
a new pet to the family. Learning a new skill.
But as much as these changes interest me and give me milestones
to look forward to, they don't really effect change. The next day,
the next week, everything goes back to routine.
So what does it take to really effect change in your home life
and in your work life?
How the heck do I know? I still put y coffee cup in the same
place I have for the past 15 years. But I do have a bucket of
interesting advice that people have shared with me.
- Plan it. Change that happens by accident is usually not the
change you were seeking.
- Talk about it. The people around you can often help make change
last.
- Have 2 or 3 options of good outcomes. Flexibility and change go
hand in hand.
- Help someone else make changes in their life or career. A
bird's eye view of the situation will help you understand your
own.
- Be positive, be grateful and have a short memory for your own
shortcomings. A positive disposition will get you further than
negativity.
As we slide into the second half of 2014, make some
changes and make them last. The world would be a pretty dull place
if nothing ever changed.