Change Does Not Have to Be Hard.

Why do you suppose we make change hard?  We make “New Year’s Resolutions.”  But often we don’t keep them.  We say we want to be thinner – but eat that doughnut.  We say we want to be more fit – but find excuses not to join a gym, or go to one we have already joined.  We say we want peaceful relationships within our families, but do not resist the temptation to snipe at someone.  Why do we do that?

In the case of being thinner, but eating stuff we know we shouldn’t, I think it is a case of instant gratification as opposed to long-term goals.  The doughnut is here, now, right in front of us.  The “thinner me” is some figment of our imagination, some “future me” which may or may not be attainable.  But the doughnut is here.  Now.  And will taste good.

The same reasoning applies to exercise.  It’s here, now, and for many of us not fun.  It may be because we think we’re uncoordinated.  Or that the others in the gym will look at us with scorn for letting our bodies get into the condition we’re in.  We don’t see immediate results after the first gym visit – in fact, we may face a sore and aching body the next day.  That puts us off from continuing.

This line of reasoning is not new – and certainly not original to me.  But I think there is a deeper issue at stake here.  I think we make change hard to justify why we didn’t change sooner!  If it were easy, we’d have done it ages ago.  We would not have eaten the original doughnut that is now sitting on our hips.  We’d have kept in better shape.  Etc.

We fear change.  How will one little change affect the rest of our lives?  Our relationships?  Many have experienced the fact that when they try to slim down, family members urge them to have just one more dessert before starting their diet.  The fear of the “saboteurs” is that their lives will be changed if we change ours.  Maybe, if we become healthier or more “desirable” we will no longer need them.  Maybe we’re already picking out our next relationship…

Again all of this is not news to you.  But I really think we make change hard to justify why we didn’t change sooner!  Give it some thought.  I’d love to hear what you think.