Counter Assertion

I look out my window at daybreak as the sunrise creates tiny sparkles on sheets of frozen snow. Two mornings later, the snow and sparkles are gone. Even the warmer weather will not last long.

Within a few months, many people will realize that the sparkling changes they’ve worked for, and perhaps achieved, were short lived.

Maintaining personal change requires inner conditioning to clean out old beliefs and assumptions. It requires strong reasons, focus, self-discipline, and commitment. It also requires enough faith to be flexible for continued growth.

People begin with the best of intentions to change. However, it is easier to settle back into familiar habits. The changes do not feel comfortable enough to last. Often, desired results are not clear enough in mind to warrant long months or years of persistence.

Motives and Reasons for Change

Positive personal change requires strong reasons and compelling ways to do the work. Sometimes the person is inspired by the need to live differently. He or she says, “I’ve chosen this long enough,” or “I’m not tolerating this any longer.” Instantly, they change,and their lives soon begin to mirror that internal change.

A Steady Focus on Passions

Change and growth require a sharp and steady focus. They require looking through a powerful and steady mental lens to see clearly the person’s passions, strengths, and gifts. As children of a perfect Creator, we have the potential to stay focused, shining with our own unique light.

Self-discipline and Commitment

Maintaining change requires self-discipline and commitment. We fall down and get back up. It is difficult to practice or train for a new skill on days that we don’t feel like it. We need to rest and balance as needed but stick with the necessary actions.

Flexibility and Readjustment

Change also requires flexibility. Readjustment is part of the natural process of growth. In knowing this, we must consider that changes, at least in this world, are not actually permanent. Everything we know and experience here is subject to the “law of impermanence of all things”.

Faith in Purpose

We will also need the faith in our purposes to re-adjust — to grow through trial and error. This is where adversities become universities. We can study and observe the process over time; what appears as change is another lesson, a path to spiritual growth.

Consider these timeless thoughts:

“It is not the years but the changes that make us grow.”

~ Neal Maxwell

“Earth changes, but thy soul and God stand sure.”

~ Robert Browning (1812-1889)

We will experience many changes throughout the seasons of life. However, we can view changes as did Robert Browning and Neal Maxwell. Changes are sparkles that shine from the heart to make us grow spiritually strong. Beginning today, we can introduce new sparkles - lights of faith and soul that continue to illuminate the path ahead.

© Copyright by Steve Brunkhorst. Steve is a professional life success coach, motivational author, and the editor of Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, a popular mini-zine bringing great stories, motivational nuggets, and inspiring thoughts to help you achieve more in your career and personal life. Get the next issue by visiting http://www.AchieveEzine.com

I am trying to create a discipline where I blog daily. This alone requires effort and commitment. But isn’t that what our lives ought to be about especially if we are trying to achieve our goals? That’s just a teaser.

Anyways, yesterday was another day when I learned something. If not learning, I needed to recall something I had read.

I am a person who likes to try things out. Positive things. Sometimes when I do and people around me make what you call ‘uncalled for comments’ it cuts right through me. And trust me, I like to be agreeable with everyone. Okay, is this the part I say I am learning that it ain’t possible to be agreeable with all? I thought so. Yesterday I just learned it on a higher grade. I needed to graduate:-) And I did.

The lesson dawned on me as I was being told of someone’s catty comment and action of trying to change what they thought I had done wrong. I wanted to go defend why I had done what I had done. Plus why I thought it was right. But as I walked away vowing to approach the person, it dawned me. I keep saying dawn I guess it really did open my eyes to a new light.

Lesson: I don’t have to defend myself every time I do something outside the box and somebody doesn’t like it. Some people will just never get it. And its meant to be just like that. Ce la vie!!! Even if you do something that is highly positive, they will always see the negative. They will always seek to drag you down.

But, I have many a times abandoned my dreams at the altar of negative thinking because l took a portion of that thinking from someone who really has hell for a life. In the moment I did that, I always abandoned what kept me going - my passion.

Yesterday, I decided I was not here to please anyone. I will think outside the box. And if you don’t like it, well my condolences. But this is not to say I won’t reason with you because sometimes someone will see the pit before I do. Just between me and you, rarely is there a pit. It usually is someone trying to pull you down.

So go out - think out of the box, and let they that shiver in their boots for fear of trying new things enjoy the view:-)

I love writing. I especially love writing inspirational lessons that I learn as I try to achieve my goals. Trust me they are ambitious. So join me and share in my goofs…