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Unleashing Your Remarkable Potential
Issue 4.50 - December 10, 2007 - ISSN: 1551-6571

In Kevin's Own Words

Five Ways to Be More Open to Change

Ever felt like there was too much change?

Does it seem to be coming at you from every direction?

Do you sometimes just wish it would s t o p?

Even the most change-centric people sometimes face this feeling. For some people most changes are interesting, and many are welcome. But there may be some that are forced on you, and you feel your resistance rising.

In those situations – where the change might initially seem unnecessary, unwelcome or even undesirable but is coming any way – it can be very helpful to think about how to face your reluctance and look for a way to be more open to that particular change.

Start with a clean slate. Put aside all of your fears and concerns about the change for the time being. From this fresh perspective consider the possibilities the change might create. Make a list. Write down every possible positive even if you don’t think it will happen. Consider the possibilities as broadly as you can – don’t evaluate or judge your list, just write down the possibilities.

Talk to proponents. As long as you are suspending judgment for a few minutes, spend some time with someone who is a champion of the change. Listen to what that person sees as the possibilities. Your goal in this exercise is to listen and learn, not defend or debate. Your plan here is to see the change through another real person’s eyes.

Consider the current challenges. Seldom is the current situation perfect. So while “the way things are” might be comfortable, it doesn’t mean we are living in a perfect world. Consider for a few minutes the things that aren’t perfect with the current situation. Maybe you like the existing version of the software, but there are some things that have always nagged you. Put on your black hat for a minute and consider what is less than perfect with your current comfortable spot.

Determine a first step. If the first three techniques lead you to try the change, or if this is a situation where the change is coming any way, figuring out the first step can be a big help! Often some of our resistance to change comes because we don’t know what to do, or how to get started. Pick something to do; take some action. That action will create momentum and help you get going.

Consider the worst case. The first suggestion asked you to consider the possibilities in the change. This approach looks at the change in a very different way. Ask yourself, “What is the worst thing that could happen because of this change?”  This question often helps to clarify our concerns and fears and, in many cases, helps us see there are less risks or downsides to the change than we thought. Once you have a list of worst case concerns, ask yourself how likely each is to occur and (almost more importantly) if you could live with those outcomes.

These five ideas can be a powerful way to re-frame your thinking and help you move forward towards any change.

That is what I said – any change. Did you notice that you can use these approaches to adjust your outlook regarding for any change – not just those forced on you?  Beyond this, these approaches can also help you help others – and influence them and adjust their beliefs regarding a specific change.  

Your Comments: Please visit the Unleashing Your Remarkable Potential Blog to leave your comments on this article.

Potential Pointer: Change comes at us from all directions; some we can choose, others are thrust upon us. There are ways to help you open up to change, whether you seek it or it is given to you. When you are more open to the possibilities change might offer, you will be happier, healthier and more satisfied in life.

Kevin

Kevin's Recommends

4000 Questions for Getting To Know
Anyone and Everyone
By Barbara Ann Kipfer

Hopefully we all want to create deeper relationships. One of the ways to do that is by asking questions (then shutting up and listening). While this book won’t help with the shutting up and listening part, it does provide 4,000 questions that will help you learn more about another person and hopefully open up deeper conversations. 

This book doesn’t have instruction or how-to’s – it is just questions separated into categories.

The categories include:

• Childhood and School
• Family and Friends
• Fun and Sport
• Habits
• Love and Sex
• Outlook
• Politics
• Spirituality
• Work

Not all of these categories – or questions – will be applicable at work or in a professional environment, but many will be. This book could be used in a thousand ways – in personal conversations, at a party or gathering, as a spur for greater creativity in a meeting, as an icebreaker, in an interview, etc.

It is a book I recommend if any of those uses seem logical to you, or if you just want to get to know your new neighbor better.

Learn more and purchase at Amazon.com.

Your Comments: Please visit the Unleashing Your Remarkable Potential Blog to leave your comments on this recommendation.

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