I was reading an article about embracing change in Business Insider about one of my mentors, Sir Richard Branson who owns the iconic brand Virgin. This article and his quote inspired me to write about the importance for embracing change to have success in life. Here’s what Branson had to say about embracing change, “Every success story is a tale of constant adaption, revision and change. A company that stands still will soon be forgotten. Trying to provoke positive change is a principle we’ve embedded across the Virgin family for more than four decades.”
To me embracing change in life, health and fitness is essential to growing as an individual and being a better person than who you were yesterday. Change is not easy or natural. If change was easy then all the New Years resolutions to lose weight, drink less and have more fun would be simple to keep. Too often we slip back into our old habits and comfort zones. Playing it safe and living beneath or ideal standards is more comfortable since we avoid fear and it allows us to live without facing things that could potential hurt us or build us up.
1. Embrace Change To Grow
Without embracing change, we sometimes go through life without ever living up to our full potential our allowing ourselves to express who we really are. In order to grow you have to embrace change as an inevitable part of life, no matter how happy you are today, you have to embrace the change that is bound to happen with or without your approval. “The only thing constant is change.” Embracing change is key to your success and happiness.
2. Be Aware of Negative Habits
Fear or pleasure are the two primary reasons we do or don’t do anything. Sometimes we change because we are attempting to rid negative habits or people from our lives because we have a fear that something bad may happen if we don’t decide to do make this change. The sooner you become aware that change is going to happen and become open to accepting it in your life sooner, the better off you will be. Are there things that you recognize as non-beneficial but you feel stuck in those actions? Think about your life and how you are progressing. Are things moving you away or toward your goals.
3. Make Change A Must Before It Makes You A Bust
It’s always better to initiate change ourselves using free will than to let our life progress to a point when change affects you in a negative way. When you are consciously aware of change, it is much easier and has longer lasting effects. Improve your standards, be fearless and have courage to step into new territory that will free you. One of my favorite books that I still read once in a while is by Dr Seuss “Oh The Places You’ll Go”. This book is a children’s book, but it’s appropriate for anyone to read if you’re having challenges embracing change.
4. You’re Not Alone
Everyone has fears, insecurities and doubts that stop us from doing or being better. This uncertainty and fear is normal. It’s actually helpful. But what you have to do is learn to embrace it. There will never be a time where you are complete absent of these thoughts and emotions, you will just learn to manage these debilitating emotions and act in accordance anyway, regardless of whether you are scared shit less.
5. Get Over Yourself
Stop wallowing in self-pity and start doing something about what is eating you. It can act as a word of caution to someone who is too absorbed in his own self and fails to look beyond that limited perspective. I think it relates to an inflated sense of self-importance, whether positive or negative. It is counterproductive to change and it will keep you from ever moving forward. Never blame your surroundings for misfortune. Instead be grateful for all that you have now. Stay focused and set your sights higher standards for yourself. Strive to achieve greatness by surrounding yourself around greatness. And stay focused because you will find that embracing change becomes easier and easier like doing a crunch becomes easier and easier with each passing day.
Wherever you are in life,or in your health and fitness take stock in the value that the journey. It takes time, dedication, persistence and consistency to accomplish anything worth having and holding onto.
Embrace change and change will embrace you.
Steve Jordan, Trainer To The Stars
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