Individuated Purpose
Upon embarking on a journey of conscious change one must ease into their process of change. This requires patience and taking time to work on the change you are producing. Those of us who want change and are in a hurry and start without the presence of mind to put the work and thought process into the work are more likely to hit a brick wall. Understand that conscious change is a deliberate and mindful process. Conscious change is in response to the awareness of meaningful change with positive results.
Change may occur on the individual and social/corporate (or otherwise, the institutional level). We will come to the varying levels of where change is implemented outside of our personal choices.
Of course, these blogs are currently concentrating on individual application, for now, which may seem unrelated to change in the project management level: The business and corporate level of change management involves humans and as long as humans are conditioned to work in a certain way and behave in a way conducive to a corporate, bureaucratic and political reality, then true individual change is useless; then, change is only being defined on a material and social level that drives the individual. In these blogs I am giving the individual the opportunity to find their way in a larger change construction. The dictates of society does push people to search for more substantive change. A lot of people, including myself, have changed courses many times in jobs/careers; searching for the balance between societal change and individual needs. Individual change is actually the foundation for any level of collective change to occur. Therefore, change management no matter what level, individual or business, requires a conscious effort, and project solutions occur through various processes.
Often times the people go through a forced or imposed change via circumstances or consequences due to life situations, such as moving to a new place, or a lifestyle change, as marriage. There are many situations that require us to make adjustments. Minor adjustments also require presence of mind. Minor adjustments do not equate to substantive change. It may be the indicator for change to occur, but it is not change. You may decide to change your residence of dwelling, so your outer environment has change which may enhance your experiences to change, but true change occurs when there is a transformation that is in balance with your potential and your life’s purpose. Once this is discovered, there is no conflict with your individual purpose and response to your outer existence. In other words, change must bring about a harmonious balance, and these discussions are about the “how” aspect (or the management aspect).
When we are in the throes of change we succumb to either the hardships or we thrive and find greater strength (some might prefer the word, re-purpose). Seeking to change must not be out of proving yourself to the world. Seek not to prove but to improve. However, there are times when we set out to prove the world wrong and we land in the very place of the needed change. If there is any disharmony with the motivation for your need to change the results will surface. Change occurs with continuous refinement when it is conscious. So, if you feel you are not reaching your goal change point do not stress over it. Instead re-calibrate, and rethink your process.
The change process is very important. Know that your process may not be in harmony with others around you. Individual change must not be out of a reaction to please others. Also, one’s personal perception and approach may not be in tandem with how others live their own lives. This may pose a challenge. (If you have not read the blog Seek Positive Change and Forward to Positive, I suggest that you have a quick read which will give you a bit more background.) Change must come from a more expansive need to improve one’s overall substance to handle the onslaught of external forces. Change may not bring you instant material success but it does eventually lead one to one’s ultimate success.
Now, we have come to a critical juncture where all the changes that one is trying to get to must create a lasting state to handle the world as things come and go, and that includes people.
To quote from the blog, Seek Positive Change, paragraph 3: To be on the path of improvement means one is looking for a positive (meaningful) outcome (at least, one’s own understanding of improvement). Positive results help us to maintain our confidence. Unfortunately, some outcomes do not always prove to be as good as expected or planned. Life challenges us to become our best selves: Struggles, disappointments and even failure are part of the course of life and change. Failures should actually spur one on to greater improvement and change.
Change is like an ocean; it is ever moving, and as the waves crash onto the shore and pulls away, it never breaks from the source of the ocean. So too when you move forward and backwards you are still trying to connect with your very essence which is you, yourself the source for change. This may seem a bit philosophical but it is rooted in reality. When there is disharmony, agitations rise like the waves in the ocean. Change brings about many agitations. Becoming a master of your own change is necessary.
If you cannot ask yourself what you really desire, out of the need to consciously seek to change, your answer will be left unanswered. (Hence, the simple and rudimentary Habit Exercise helps one to do some thinking.) Your outcomes rest with you. Improving yourself starts with acceptance of what or whom you cannot change. So you may not improve anyone or anything, but acceptance of your own self and need for change is half the work. Acceptance is freeing and this should enhance a tolerance to get to your change goals.