I have always wondered why it was so hard for me to change. When I say change, I am talking about changing stuff about me. For example, exchanging bad habits for good ones (or better ones), changing aspects of myself that needed changing (like intolerance, impatience, pride, arrogance), or changing an intellectual or skill area (like learning a new skill or closing an intellectual gap). How does one change? I think I change when I become A.W.A.R.E. What does that mean?

A = Acknowledgment. I see that something needs to change and I acknowledge it. I recognize it and own it as mine.

W = Willingness. I decide that I am willing to change that which I recognize as needing change.

A = Ability. I recognize that what needs to change is based on an old way of looking at something (a paradigm) or of doing something (a habit) and I acquire the ability to do it differently  or to not do it. In other words, I acquire the ability to change. This could take ne an hour, a day, even weeks. It might even take me engaging someone to help me through the change, or research on how to do it differently , or to avoid doing it at all.

R = Resistance. I realize that there is resistance to change and I work through how to break through that resistance. I also develop a resistance to fall back into the old way, the old habit.

E – Enablement. Making a change permanent requires practicing it, repeating it until the skill is mastered and becomes part of me. The key is to be able to own the new skill, to make it an integral part of me, so that I don’t even have to think about it, I “Nike” it (Just  Do It!).

This is how I change. I have found it to be a good process for me. More later. TTFN. ~EPF