Friday 17 January 2020

Change one of the few constants in life

Calodagh McCumiskey - Wellbeing & Meditation

2020 has a nice ring to it. We are on the cusp of a new year and a new decade. As always there is a lot of talk about new year's resolutions, getting in shape, making positive changes to our health and other habits and generally related to the various things we wish to improve about ourselves and our lives.

Over the years, I have become somewhat skeptical of new year's resolutions in the way they are often done considering their success rates. Most (90 percent) fail within 6 weeks. I feel this is mainly because of poor planning, people expecting too much of themselves and people giving up to easily. They can and do work when they are well planned, suit your lifestyle and are implemented with consistency.

I am a big fan of making regular positive changes to yourself and your life - and not just at new year. Being able to change is a key part of life. As Charles Darwin said: 'It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.'

Change is one of the few constants in life. Times change. Situations change. In business if we want to stay relevant we have to stay ahead of the change or at least come on board early.

We have to adapt to new tastes, needs and trends and incorporate them into how we work and position ourselves accordingly.

In our personal lives, the variables we are dealing with change too. Our key relationships are constantly changing as people change. Our children's' need change. Our parents' needs change. Our own needs change as we age. Dynamics change as people grow and evolve. To be relevant and on top of things it is natural that we have to adapt ourselves to those changes.

To use the metaphor of a factory - if we want to change the output in a production line, we have to change the input and or the processing and the output will naturally change.

The growth mindset allows for change very well. There is a great book about that by Carol Dweck. Having a growth mindset involves consistent growth and learning. It involves regular reflection and being responsive to change. Every day we either grow or we succeed.

Here are 7 tips if you want to make lasting changes to your life in 2020 and beyond:

1. Plan well. Think about what would be most beneficial to you and focus on that.

2. Start small. The brain is more likely to believe small changes. If you want to get fit, exercise for a short period of time and build it up. You will start to enjoy how it makes you feel. And then you will start to enjoy the exercise. What is most important is to create positive habits for your life not just for a few weeks.

3. If you want to get fit for example, try a few different types of exercise and see what suits you best.

4. One cigarette doesn't make you a smoker. If you break your plan, dust off and get back on the saddle quickly.

5. To get back to the factory metaphor, change how you think about what you are doing. Change the processing in your mind. Be positive. Encourage yourself. A marathon begins with a first step. Every change that happens starts small.

6. Integrate small changes over a few weeks and then build on them. Change is not just for new year it is for every part of the year.

7. Be consistent and believe in yourself.

Wexford People

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