by Robert Bruton

Created on: November 07, 2009   Last Updated: November 08, 2009

You examine your life and find things within your life that need changing. Where do you muster up the courage to do that? To find the will to not only change, but make it a lasting change. The real quest is to find sustainable change.

In all of us we have the capacity to change our lives. Problem is with change often comes some form of sacrifice and what is interpreted as pain. Not physical pain but emotional pain. Here is where the rubber meets the road. Our natural tendency will be to take the least path of resistance. Give up when the emotions become painful. The most important point to remember, it's not forever! The pain you may endure for a brief time will dissipate with time.

Change requires practice. To become good at something you have to practice. You don't walk on an ice rink and begin to ice skate without falling not a few times but a lot. When you fall your behind feels it. But the pain goes away and your keep trying. Eventually, you fall less and less. Till one day you skate without falling even one time.

Lasting change comes only with a great deal of practice. When you can learn to make second nature what you are changing. When change becomes habit, that's when you see the real power of change.

Another obstacle necessary to overcome will be your own fear. Again focus must remain on practice; repetition will overcome your worst fears. Keep petting the snake and eventually you will pick it up (obviously not poisonous ones). Power comes from overcoming your fear of change. Your conscious mind or ego will want you to stay status quo. Through repetition and practice you will ingrain your subconscious mind with the change you desire.

The power to change lies within us all. You simply must practice that which you intend on changing. When your pain seems too much, that's when you must buckle down and push through. Don't stop or give in to emotional pain. Grit your teeth and tell yourself, "I am winning this time, not fear or pain". Don't kick your own butt. Giving into your fear or pain will only make things worse. If you fall, get up. If you have to start over, start over. If you have to start over again, start over again. In time you will not fall when you skate onto the ice. You will move around the ice rink with ease and grace. Remember you can't ice skate without a few tumbles and bruises. But eventually you will skate and have lots of fun doing it!

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