Scott Jeffrey » resistance

Four Barriers to Positive Change

Scott Jeffrey — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:00:08 +0000

How many times have you read or heard about a great idea—something you thought would improve your life—but never put it into practice?

Why do we do this? Why do we neglect to put into practice something we believe would benefit us?

One reason is that putting ideas into practice is hard work. We barely have sufficient time to read books so how are we supposed to find time to practice the ideas contained therein?

Ultimately, any excuses we give for not implementing ideas that have the potential to better our lives is just that: an excuse. And we’re the only ones who lose. We lose when we don’t make dietary and lifestyle changes that we know will enhance our physical well being. We lose when we procrastinate making that home improvement that will make our lives more convenient and enjoyable. We lose when we don’t change our destructive behaviors to bring harmony and greater joy and love to our relationships.

Why don’t we do what we believe is in our best interest? Here are several blocks that come to mind:

1) Lack of Self-Discipline: Most of us are severely lacking in this virtue. It doesn’t serve us to blame society or our parents. Taking full responsibility is the only solution when it comes to self-discipline. By putting your intention on being more proactive with positive change, over time, your inner discipline will strengthen.

2) No Commitment to Growth: Closely tied to self-discipline, a deep commitment to improve oneself and the lives of others is required for change. When you become resolute—when you’re committed to growing and becoming more no matter what—progress begins to unfold of its own.

3) Excuses: The beliefs that “I can’t” or “I don’t have time” have to be set aside. The reality is we do have time to make the change IF it’s important enough to us. Oftentimes it’s simply a matter of values and priorities. We get done what we decide we must.

4) Resistance: Most of us have an innate resistance to self-practices that lead to inner growth. Why? Unconscious fear. Even though we intellectually know we can become more, we are comfortable with who we are now. The known is familiar and comfortable; the unknown while exciting at times is more often frightening.

We’re often so busy getting on with life that we don’t invest time in contemplating and reflecting on the meaning and significance of what we’re doing and who we are becoming. Make the progression toward positive change is a must; change is closer than you think.

The ONE Constant in the Universe

Scott Jeffrey — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:00:17 +0000

Have you heard the story of the great king?

In his later years, he began feeling great inner turmoil and perhaps his own mortality. The king called forth a powerful wizard to fashion him a magical amulet to help him deal with any situation. He wanted something that would alleviate suffering and provide perspective and great wisdom.

Only a few days later, the wise wizard returned to the king and presented him with a small box. The king opened the box and took out a simple gold ring. Feeling as though the wizard had played him for a fool, he examined the ring more carefully. Upon discovering and reading the inscription on the ring, the great king smiled, stood up and bowed to the wise wizard.

What was inscribed on the ring? The words: “And this too shall pass.”

Whether it’s a difficult situation, an unfamiliar experience or even something pleasurable—it will pass. There is only ONE constant in the universe: Change.

Knowing this we have two choices: We can accept and embrace change, or we can resist and fight change and face the consequences.

When we resist change, we suffer. We confine our experience to a limited bubble, hindering our ability to grow. Resisting change inhibits our ability to become great leaders whom by necessity can handle substantial levels of uncertainty.

And what about those who embrace change with open arms? They have all the fun. They are the leaders of each generation who boldly progress forward—blazing new frontiers, constantly charging ahead.

A person who embraces uncertainty may flinch initially, but quickly acknowledges his primal fear and then lunges forward. This person is highly adaptable and solves problems quickly as a consequence of letting go of resistance and being open to alternative points of view.

A very simple, yet powerful three-step process can help you embrace positive change. This little strategy can transform your business practices and every other area of your life:

Try lots of stuff.
Keep what works.
Discard the rest.

Stay open to change and be prepared to embrace what life brings you. With resilience and trust, you will begin to chart your course through the great abyss of exploration. An incredible life adventure awaits!

You Have Two Choices

You Have Two Choices

Scott Jeffrey — Fri, 29 May 2009 11:00:39 +0000

In any moment, you have two profound choices: Resist what is or allow it to be the way it is.

When you resist what is, you struggle. You experience stress. You suffer.

Unfortunately, our minds are wired for resistance. The human mind wants to change everything.

To illustrate, try to think about a person in your life with whom you don’t hold any grievances. No matter how much you love someone, invariably you want to change something about them—and probably many things.

You can also look at the room you’re in right now. If you focus on any object, you may notice that you want to change something about it. It could be the positioning of a pen, the hum of your computer or two people talking in the background.

Right now, my mind wants to change the sound of my neighbor mowing his lawn. How dare he mow his lawn on a Friday morning!

The opposite of resisting something—or wanting to change it—is to accept things as they are. When you have acceptance, you allow things to be as they are in the moment. Acceptance doesn’t mean passivity or apathy—it simply means allowing the reality of the moment to be as it is.

I might want my neighbor to stop mowing so I can enjoy nature’s silence, but the reality is he’s mowing. My desire to change what is only creates repressed negative energy within me. What good does that serve?

If you allow things to be as they are right now, you become infinitely more resourceful. In a more centered state, you can tap into the creative impulse. You become a more productive, happy person.

The choice is yours …

10 Things to Remember During a Challenging Economy

Scott Jeffrey — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:03:27 +0000

Here are ten powerful thoughts to keep in mind:

This too shall pass. All things are transitory. Everything cycles in and out. This recession will not last forever.
Economic downturns are important. It’s a natural cleansing process that leaves the country’s economic framework in a stronger position when things turn upward.
Save. Save. Save. A challenging economy gives us an important reminder that we must constantly be adding to our savings—no matter what.
This is just another experience. If you shut off mainstream media for a while you’ll realize how events get overly dramatized. Again, this too shall pass.
You’re never short of money—only short of an idea. Even in downturns, there are many businesses that flourish. Your true capital is creativity, not money.
Adaptability is a quality of the human condition. The human spirit is incredibly strong. We adapt. How much we kick and scream in the process is up to us.
Let go of resisting what is. Things are tough and might be so for some time. Resisting this fact or complaining about it only expends valuable energy that can be directed towards more fruitful ends.
Focus on what you will create, not on what you lack. I dare not call it the law of attraction but what you hold in mind tends to manifest.
Opportunities still exist. There are always opportunities. Always.
Life is a gift. Be grateful for your existence regardless of your circumstances.

One friendly reminder: You can genuinely smile at any moment … including this one.

The Energy of Money