[pullquote align=”normal” cite=”Albert Einstein”]The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.[/pullquote]

Some of the greatest thinkers, writers and minds of recent times quote about change in life: Churchill, John F Kennedy, George Bernard Shaw, Maya Angelou.  But what do they reveal about change?  We put change in this week’s spotlight.

Change in Life

Change is an inevitable part of our lives. And yet we often live our lives reluctant to change or unable to do so.

Change requires effort and is often perceived in our minds as scary.  And yet if we want to improve, change is at the heart of achieving it.

[pullquote align=”normal” cite=”Winston Churchill”]To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.[/pullquote]

So it is perhaps reassuring to remember that every second is an opportunity to turn life around or take it in another direction.  George Eliot once said:

“It is never too late to become what you might have been.”

Generally, our lives do not get better by chance, they get better by change.  And if we don’t like our life, or indeed an aspect of it, then we should seek to change it.

However powerless, however disempowered we may feel, the power is within us all!

[pullquote align=”normal” cite=”George Bernard Shaw”]Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.[/pullquote]

So change begins with a decision in mind to change.  I want to lose weight, I want a change of career, I want more time to do the things in life I value.

And yet as Shaw reminds us – our minds, our values and beliefs can also be the breeding ground for defeat. As someone once succinctly put it:

“The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.”

That seems all very well, but aren’t there just some things in our lives which are unchangeable?  We can’t for example, change bad things that happen to us.

Whilst that may be true, we can change how we respond to them.

[pullquote align=”normal” cite=”Maya Angelou”]If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.[/pullquote]

• You can’t change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust the sails to reach your destination.

• You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.

• You can’t change your past but you can always change your future.

• You can’t change how people treat you or what they say about you.  All you can do is change how you react to it.

[pullquote align=”normal” cite=”John F Kennedy”]For time and the world do not stand still.  Change is the law of life.  And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.[/pullquote]

Change can be scary, but within us is the power to change.  Don’t be afraid of change, you might lose something, but you’ll gain something maybe better.  Change begins (and can end) with thought – a goal in mind, yet we must tame our minds to achieve our goals.

Remember

“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” – Lao Tzu

And

“If we don’t change, we don’t grow.  If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living” – Gail Sheehy

Change for you

What about you? What’s one thing you’d like to change in your life? Comment below.