The Reason

Change is simple - simple is not easy and change is not easy. Change happens all the time, everyday of our lives. Most changes are happening without notice or without our direct influence.

Real change generally requires some action, some plan to get us from this state to the next state. If you want to change your hair color you have to make a plan to buy some hair dye or go to a salon. If you want a new car you have to take steps toward research or going to a dealer. Even relationships require action, you want to be friends with this person or avoid that person it requires action and planning to some degree.

Now change does come in unexpected and unpleasant ways from time to time.  A car accident doesn't take any planning or the lose of a friend or loved one requires no planning on your part, however that change does require you to change, to develop a plan to handle that unwanted change in your life. Let's not dwell on this, but rather agree that change is simple, but not easy and to make change happen in a positive way we need a plan!

So here is my plan..... HAHA just kidding, how can I just jump into a plan?! Nope before we plan, before we can make a change we need a reason!!

What is a reason, a reason isn't a goal - A goal is something you make a plan to achieve and we aren't to plans yet. A reason isn't a how that is also a plan or some set of steps. A reason is WHY - Why may be the most important question we can ever ask, and most of the time the hardest to answer with any real truth or thought behind it.

So why? Why change? Change is simple, but it is HARD - Why change at all? You won't change if you don't have a reason to change and the reason has to matter. Looking good on the beach (classic weight lose reason) is a temporary reason and it's effects will fade with the Pumpkin spiced lattes. Real last change needs a real reason, one that will remain before, during and after you have made your change.

So before we can get to change, goals, plans, steps, mistakes, successes - we need a reason.

So what's your reason? Is it to get fit? Be a better parent? Live a longer life (Lord willing)?

Find your reason - maybe you write it down, maybe it is rooted so deep that you don't need it written on paper because it is written on your heart or written on the faces of your children or loved ones.

A closing note - reasons can change and most of the time that will at least somewhat. The reason you made one change doesn't have to be the reason you keep that change as "the new normal".

Step 1 - Find your reason.