by Lisa Griffiths

Created on: March 11, 2010

It is natural for individuals to resist change because of the lack of trust, or value, in its necessity. In proving the significance of taking the right approach in order to achieve change, the process of change itself must be examined.

While encouraging one to change, resentment may be encountered along with resistance. Questioning reasons for the change and why it is worth the risk will need to be answered in order to minimize and overcome resistance.

Providing for the benefits of change, individuals, who initially prove ignorant or resistant, may become enlightened and realize the necessity for change.

Perhaps it is a slight nagging at the conscience that precipitates a need for change, but whatever passage is taken into the acceptance of the necessity to change will appear as an “aha” moment.

Additionally, there will be individuals who view change as threatening to the sense of self. When asked to do something differently or behave in an unfamiliar manner, an individual may lose a sense of identity.

Feelings of losing control over what they have, up until now, held  firm. Change can confuse an individual’s sense of identity—the sense of self that sees no possible necessity for change.

As a result, feelings that inherent attitudes and behaviors previously held sacred will be lost with the change—similar to losing a limb or life—causes fear and resistance.

Therefore, the significance of taking the right approach in achieving change is important to the process in order to realize success.

However, within the boundaries of observational learning, role models can facilitate the awareness process. Individuals may come to realize how their own basic sense of values can still be recognized, though modified, within the newly accepted change.

As awareness begins, acknowledgment that change involves certain levels of risk is valuable, but realizing it creates a greater benefit to self and, probably, others as well, will assist in breaking down any lingering resistance.

This decision making period, that allows for thoughts and behaviors to be pondered over, examines the roots of an individual’s values and considers the necessity of change. Advantages must outweigh the disadvantages—risk assessment. 

This is recognized in the belief many individuals have that a particular change is wrong and unacceptable. Maybe it is not that others are being obstinate, or afraid, in their resistance to change.

Maybe they

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