Should you change yourself?

Is it time for us to change? Are you changing yourself?
   A few years ago Willie quoted some authority in saying change yourself to change society. And the last time he was home he introduced us to the butterfly effect, which says a butterfly over the Atlantic Ocean can cause a hurricane in the Pacific Ocean.
  Last month we gave the wrong answer to two different NineShift questions about influencing change in America.  The questioners assumed change starts at the top.  We should have responded that change actually starts at the bottom, and 2008 is the year to start changing ourselves. 
   Is it now time for us to change ourselves?  Share your thoughts, and tell us what you are changing in your life right now.

Comments

[Deborah Abbott]

I'm in my 40s and had very long hair that I grew for various musical performances. I always wore comfortable clothes to work and didn't take care of myself at my desk while working on the computer. However, my manager announced he's leaving the company and at the same time I saw somewhere that Great Clips (salon) provides free haircuts to anyone donating to Locks Of Love (provides hair for children to get wigs when going through chemo.). I decided to make a change to look and become more professional at work. I put aside the blouses with missing buttons, bulky sweaters and slacks that are starting to fray for donation. I now have a shoulder-length haircut with layers and I've worn tailored suits for the last week, one that's been in the back of my closet for a while and two new ones that cost less than $200 from a sale. I've had extremely positive comments from everyone at work and friends. I even had the person in the drive-through of McDonald's comment on how nice the haircut looks. I feel *worth* more and have more confidence. I may not 'butterfly' again for another 10 years, but it sure feels good to live this new transformation!

[Gemi Powell]

I feel that change does not start at the bottom or the top it starts within.

True change cannot happen with the change of individuals. If true change is to happen than it will begin within individuals, values, priorities, personal convictions, actions, reactions etc.

If people continue to believe, feel and interact they way they always have, things will stay the same it is when people begin to make personal changes that a community or society will experience real change.

[Terry Newman]

I think change can start from wherever you are. A key to change is leadership. We have to take the initiative to put ourselves out there to fight for what we want to improve. In a higher ed environment, change is slow and more difficult, if not impossible, if the college/university president does not support the change.

A couple years ago I moved 300 miles from my lifelong home and decided to become a different person. I acted as though I was different and I became that person. Change can be hard when you stay in familiar ground...there are always those who would love to see you fail. But a good leader will take the risk if it means that something positive can come out of the change.

[Daniel Bednar]

What about forced change? The year 2007 was a year of changes mostly forced upon me. I began the year with my wife asking me for a divorce, I put my house up for sale (bad timing), I changed custody arrangements for my daughter, and then my father died. Changes rarely seem to occur gracefully, and I've adapted to some rather harsh conditions at times.

But even bad changes can bring about positive results if we let them. I'm now in a more healthy relationship, and I'll be able to put my life back in order once my house sells. So, even with all the bad stuff of last year, I can look forward to a better year.

I think the key to change is that we have to be open to it. We need to recognize when our ways need to change. It can be scary, but it's the only way we grow. My favorite quote comes from Picasso, "Every act of creation is also an act of destruction." To begin anew, we destroy the old.

[Val]

Yes you really do need to change yourself because you outgrow yourself. Reinventing your own possibilities keeps you young and excited about living.

[Sherry]

I think it was Gandhi who said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

[Gee Snyder]

Someone recently encouraged me while I was making a major life decision: as Jean Stapleton's character says to Meg Ryan's character in "You've Got Mail" (regarding her decision to close her bookstore) "Of course it's a brave decision. You are daring to think that you could have a different life." I think we are all beginning to dare to think we could have a different life - and I would add - better life!