Lisa Dale Miller, LMFT Articles

Making Change Happen Successfully
Lisa Dale Miller, MFT

Are you contemplating change, starting anew or transforming harmful ways of thinking and behaving? People can be so afraid of change, even though change is a natural process. It is the one thing in life we can always count on. Nothing stays the same; everything is constantly changing.

So how do we apply the naturally occurring energy of change in a directed way? Change requires an open mind, creativity, a sense of adventure, as well as some measure of fearlessness, risk tolerance, and flexibility. The key to making purposeful changes lies in setting achievable goals and sustaining clear intention for successful completion.

Once you have decided upon the changes you wish to make, apply three important components for successful change: Intention, attention, and remembering.

Change itself is the intention. What is needed is specificity about the nature of change and a clear delineation of incremental steps for successful completion.

Attention is the effort and energy we apply to making change a reality. This attention can take the form of mental, physical, emotional or spiritual efforts to remain focused on specific goals.

Remembering is a gentle, compassionate, active reminding of our intention for change. Remembering is a critical part of making successful change, since the process of change can include times when we may lose interest, feel doubtful or even overwhelmed. So remembering our goals, reinvigorating intention, and refocusing attention become important allies in our effort to create change.

Think of the process of change as a creative partner. Doing this leads to all sorts of innovations along the way. When we release the need to know exactly how change will occur, we open ourselves to a world of infinite possibilities for how our goals will eventually be realized.

Again, intention becomes critical for partnering with the inevitable creative chaos of change. As long we hold our intentions mindfully, always refocusing our attention on cultivating positive, life-affirming changes, even in the face of inevitable shedding of old patterns of thought and behaviors, successful change will happen.

Remember to be still when it is time to be still, and be active when it is time to be active. All things are of the nature to arise and pass away. We fail to succeed when we hold tightly to the illusion of permanence. Let go of fear and give in to flow!

Disclaimer
The information on any area or page of this site is intended for information purposes only regarding an available clinical service. The diagnosis or treatment of any particular disorder by the information provided on this website, or the links referred to by this website, is not recommended, intended, nor implied. No therapeutic relationship exists between Lisa Dale Miller, MFT and individuals wishing to e-mail or telephone her for information or to schedule an appointment. A therapeutic relationship, if appropriate, will be agreed upon in writing following an initial consultation. If a psychotherapy relationship is not possible, for whatever reason, appropriate referrals may be provided.