Change Takes A Long Time

40 Tips To Re-Invent and Re-Launch at Age 40, 50, or Beyond. (Tip #7)

If you are serious about making changes in your life, you have to be clear that this is more than a public declaration.  Transformation is not something that happens with the wave of a magic wand or a statement of intention.  Change happens via a series of ongoing actions over a long period of time.

Intention is not action, and only actions can lead you to launching a new you.

There are disagreements on how long it takes to create a behavioral change.  Many authors and motivational guru's proclaim that it takes 21 days to turn an action into a habit, but I have read recently that scientists who study habits say there is no set number of days involved.  Each person is different.  One article on said it can vary from 18 days to 254 days to form a habit.  This means it is not the calendar, but resilience of the commitment that matters.

If you are serious about implementing change in your life and career, you have to be dedicated over the long run to your metamorphosis.  Understanding that there are no quick-fix programs or other fairy dust will make the process more enjoyable and help keep you focused.

As I have mentioned in other articles in this series, one of the hardest parts to re-invention is getting others to recognize and acknowledge your changes.  I do not think others want you to change, even for the better.  We live in a world where fast judgments rule the psyche. Once someone has assigned a label to another it is hard to get them to pay attention.  To change their perception means admitting they were wrong, and nobody like to be wrong.  Additionally, people are often jealous of the achievements of those around them, and this causes them to seek ways to undermine your progress (even if just in their own head).  The only thing that will overcome how others see you is the passage of time and your consistency to the new path you are forging.

Accept that change takes a long time, and work hard to keep your efforts alive as you march toward your new goals.

Have A Great Day

thom singer