On A Mission To Embrace Change

It never fails. I get to about 3:00 in my day and I am starving. There are several fast food restaurants around and sometimes it’s easy to go grab a burger. I have seen the ads on TV and I know exactly what I want. I set out on a mission to get my hunger needs fulfilled with a number one combo. It’s cheap, easy, and I know the results: hunger satisfied and enough energy to finish my day. What could possibly go wrong? I drive through the line and tell the attendant at the speaker exactly what I need. With no argument or discussion, they ask me to drive around to the second window (funny how no one uses the first window) and pick up my food.

Already having my money ready, I hand it over and the cashier gives me my lunch in a brown bag. Getting back to my office, I open the wrapper to find a squished, messy, and barely warm burger in front of my eyes. The most interesting thing to me is not that it doesn’t match the picture or that I am irritated, it’s that I eat it anyways without saying a word and will probably go back again knowing that I will order that very same combo. Without changing a thing, 3:00 will show up the next day and off I will go to get a lunch that leaves me unsatisfied, bloated, and probably 1200 calories over what I should be eating. So why do I keep doing this? Sometimes I prefer the status quo and the comfort of a routine. I don’t want to change; I just want my burger to get better! However, relying on others (or burgers) to change can be limiting, frustrating, and leave you stuck in unhealthy patterns.

As we get older and set in our ways, we may find ourselves resisting change.

This resistance can be a sign that we may fear the process or result of what change could take or bring. This fear may come from insecurities, a lack of resources, confusion, and/or denial. If this is the case, it can be helpful to seek out someone you can talk to and share these fears.

Having a counselor or trusted individual to share them with is the first step toward embracing change. Here are some key points to keep in mind when it comes to change:

  • Change is a process. First, we may deny or refuse that any change is
    needed. Second, we may resist change even if we know change can be helpful. Third, we may start to explore our options and check out new ways of handling our issues. Finally, we make the decision to change and make a goal to continue in this new direction.
  • Knowledge is key before implementing change. In exploring your behavior you can become wise to areas that can be helpful in creating lasting change. By exploring patterns and options, you may gain a better outlook as to why you are continuing in the behavior you want to change.
  • Disappointments will happen. Unfortunately, in an attempt toward change you may face some setbacks. Change can come is waves.  At one point you may feel and see progress, only to drift back to where you started. It takes time, effort, and dedication to implement lasting change.
  • Never attempt any change without having several healthy resources to fall back on. This can come in the form of your faith based community, an accountability partner, counselor, and/or your relationship with God. In having empowering, encouraging, and helpful resources, change can be something that doesn’t have to be feared but embraced.

If you’re in the Atlanta area and are ready to embrace change you can make an appointment with Adam by visiting: thriveworks.com/atlanta-counseling/ or calling 404-682-1923.