Celebrate Change

I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.
- Alice and the Caterpillar

If you have ever found a box of old family photos, it can be a revelation to see how much everyone has changed over the years. Not just how everyone looks, but the clothing, styles, cars, houses - everything has changed - sometimes in subtle ways, and oftentimes in very dramatic fashion.

We change, relationships change, our surroundings change. Individually, we orchestrate some small portion of these changes, but a great deal of change swirls on by - with or without our consent or conscious awareness, let alone our approval. Like Alice, sometimes we even find ourselves changed several times before breakfast!

The irony of course, is that in the midst of all this change, it can be incredibly difficult for us to change the things that are holding us back. So, how to become a master of change, rather than being its passive victim?

1). Embrace Change
If we pause to consider how many things are changing, it can be overwhelming. That’s why we build routines and ceremonies to tame the current of change, and there is certainly value in building routines and honing our skills through repetition. However, recognize that all these routines are but scaffolding for managing change. Once you understand that everything is changing, then new possibilities open up everyday, maybe even several times before breakfast.

2). Direct Change, No Permission Needed
When it comes to making changes, you do not need to apply for permission. It may feel like the world is conspiring to keep you in the status quo - but in reality, change is happening all the time. Your job is to learn how to direct change towards making your goals a reality. Change can be most effectively directed by consistently Remembering Your Future Self and Owning Your ONE Thing.

3). Respect Change
Institutions and traditions are built - not to stifle change, but out of a profound respect for the power of change. In other words - as you learn to master change, also be respectful of its power, lest it come back to haunt you in unexpected ways. For example, you can make massive changes to your work situation, but wind up alienating your family and friends. Every change can cast a wide pool of ripples, so don’t just change for the sake of change.

A Final Word On Change
There is a rather famous quote attributed to Gandhi “be the change you want to see in the world”. But his actual quote is more subtle -

“We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.”

As you change on the inside, the world begins to reflect that change back to you. At its core, changing the world is an inside job.  As you create a burning inner vision for your ROCKET Goals, that vision will begin to change your outer reality.