How to Change on Purpose

By Paul Kearley

Changing on Purpose

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. ~Leo Tolstoy
We just got home from the airport where we dropped off Audrey, our 15 year old french exchange student, who has been at our home since September. Of course there were many tears, and many times saying and waving goodbye, but when she went through the security gate, you could tell that while she was crying, she was glad to be going home.

The day she walked off the airplane and into our lives was very memorable for us, as I'm sure it was for her.

She was scared.

No, it was more than that, she was petrified. Here was this 15 year old child who had grown up in the middle of rural Quebec in a very French community, and who spoke very little English who was placed in our care a thousand kilometres away. Our job was to be her host home and to attempt to teach her about our way of life. Her challenge was much greater than ours. She had to overcome shyness, she had to speak a language that she didn't really know, she had to endure our customs and habits, and she had to live with another family who didn't really know her. She stood up to the pressure of change like a pro. The first couple of days, there were a lot of tears and long distance calls home, but she stuck it out and is so proud of herself, as well she should be. Audrey has taught us that change can be achieved, if it is looked at in the right way.

We were so fortunate to have had her. If we could have written a letter and described the perfect kid to be twinned with our daughter, it would certainly have been Audrey. With her perpetual smile that would just melt you in your shoes, to her hilarious sense of humour, she was always pleasant. She had the courage to laugh at herself when she made mistakes with her language. Especially the time when Judy asked her to get the lettuce from the fridge and Audrey got the Plum Sauce. Since that day, we still call the lettuce Plum Sauce. Judy and I often wondered when she was going to crack and show at least some kind of adolescent attitude, but she never did. While we were not her parents, we were so proud of her accomplishments.

Like Audrey, we have all faced great changes in our lives, and if we choose to, instead of waiting for a change to be thrust upon us, we can change on purpose.

Of course some of us have faced more than others: going from high school to college, from being single to being married, from having no children to having children, from having no job to having a job, from being married to being divorced etc. Most changes are usually from the known to the relatively unknown and it may not always be our first choice in which way it goes. Even though the change may not always be our first choice, we still have a choice as to how the change will pan out.

I have discovered that to be successful with change, there are a few principles that should be followed:

Always be searching for something new; Resist the temptation to become rigid in your thinking and in your life.

Be willing to take a risk. Ask yourself what's the worst thing that can happen, and then improve on it.

Be open and willing to make mistakes because it's through the making of mistakes that we learn how to progress.

When you have reached success in your change, reread number 1.

This week, re-examine your life and dare to ask yourself if you are truly happy with where you are, with what you have or with whom you are. If you think that there are things that are in need of some kind of change, then do it. You are the only one who can! You have nothing to lose, and a more fruitful and productive life to gain.

Make this your best week ever!

Paul

© 2008 Paul Kearley CS, For 22 years, Paul Kearley has thrived in the personal development and coaching business. As a Master Business Coach, Paul's passion is in developing and creating increased potential, and coaching people to create success.

A newspaper columnist, and editor for "E-Motion", his own weekly ezine, and author of 3 e-books, Paul writes articles that address the everyday challenges we all have and face in life and in business, and offers suggestions for success.

If you'd like to connect with Paul to discuss your personal or business strategies or to subscribe to "E-Motion" , simply visit http://www.mustthinking.com or send an e-mail to carnegie@nbnet.nb.ca, .

Visit http://www.mustthinking.com to review and purchase my NEW E-Book MUST Thinking: An easy four step guide for creating the results you want"

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Kearley