The Equation of Change

This equation is actually really simple, yet many of us persist in making it complicated.

‘We only change when the cost of changing is less than the cost of staying where we are.’

Now this makes perfect sense at an intellectual level, but at an emotional level we just don’t seem to get it. We play tricks on ourselves. We deny or ignore the current costs by telling ourselves ‘it’s really not that bad,’ ‘other people have it much worse than me’ or ‘it’s not really costing me much.’

And that’s the issue - we tend to focus only on the time and financial implications and costs. When what we need to do is focus on the emotional, physical, and spiritual, as well as the financial costs. Until you explore the full impact and cost to you it’s easy to convince yourself that it’s not too costly.

But if you have a consistent niggle, if you’re worrying over something, if it’s making you anxious, if it’s affecting you physically in terms of aches and pains. If it’s affecting how you feel, how you behave with others, your sleeping or eating patterns, your relationships, your free time or how you do business, then it is costing you a lot. It is important.

And if you persist in denying it or reducing its impact then you’re telling yourself it’s not important – that you’re not important. If you give yourself an excuse for not taking action or making a definite decision then it’s quite simple – you will not change – no matter how motivated you think you are or how much you say you want something different.

So let me ask you....

What have you been putting off, pushing down or denying recently that it’s important to pay attention to?

and

What is this really costing you? Be specific here.

What’s it costing you financially? In terms of lost business/opportunity or unproductive time and effort.

What’s it costing you emotionally? In terms of how it makes you feel and how that influences your relationship with others.

What’s it costing you physically? In terms of your health and wellbeing.

What’s it costing you spiritually? In terms of your unfulfilled dreams, goals, and desires for your life or business.

Because until you can quantify what it’s really costing you, until you can measure the true consequences and impact of staying put, then you’ll never be able to make the equation fit. Because in order to change you need to clearly understand that even though changing may take time, effort and possibly money, this will still be less costly than what you’re doing (or not doing) currently.

So if you suspect you’ve fallen into the denial trap, do your sums and answer the questions above.

Establish the true cost to you, your business or work, and your life.

This is the only way to start to ‘get real’, to gain some traction, and to motivate yourself to move forward, to change and to grow.

So remember the equation of change. And remember that changing and growing is a natural part of life. It’s good for you because it demonstrates you are fully alive. It’s what you’re here for!