How long does change take? Many kinds of change, particularly the learning of new skills and strategies will require sustained attention and effort. When motivated to do so, many people can regulate this in order to sustain the effort and concentration that such change will require.
Our minds and bodies are dependent on stimulants, actions and patterns that come to define who we are. Our behaviors are our security blankets, enveloping us in their consistent presence and comfort of familiarity. On average, it takes more than 2 months before a new behavior becomes automatic… 66 days to be exact. But really, how long it takes to make a change? It can vary widely depending on our behavior, our determination, and the circumstances. In one study, it took anywhere from 18 days to 254 days.
People differ considerably in their ability to self-regulate. Their differences reflect variances in their level of motivation, their capability, their level of determination and their exposure to interferences. We need to build the individual skills in self-regulation and self-determination that The Power To Change requires.
Let me ask again, how long it takes to make a change? The simple answer is… It’s different for every person. The journey is as individual and unique as you are. Your path to change is different from mine, and it will differ from another person’s.
Imagine I give you one tiny Chinese bamboo seed. It is up to you to plant the seed. See that your pot has the most fertile soil imaginable. Know that anything will grow, at any time of year. Once you plant your seed, you must commit to watering it every day. For a year you may water your seed but find that you see nothing except wet soil.
Your family, your friends and your neighbors may begin to think you are crazy. Simply put yourself in a place of trust and keep watering your seed. After a time, still nothing may happen. KEEP WATERING! For two years you keep watering, and nothing appears above ground. Yet again, I say, KEEP WATERING! You find yourself at the beginning of the third year, and WHAM!!! Your Chinese bamboo jumps a mighty ninety feet toward the heavens. What happened, you ask? It took time for the plant to develop strong roots. Only after the roots were established and took hold, did the bamboo find the power to BREAK THROUGH! The power was always there; it just needed to be nurtured.
Our mind is like the bamboo seed. Although to those around us, it may appear that nothing is happening on the surface, we must build or re-build our “roots,” our own strong foundation. Our foundation consists of the thoughts we think and the beliefs we hold about others and ourselves. KEEP WATERING! Keep reading, keep focused on your goals, keep using your support network, and keep your self-talk positive.
The sad thing of it is, this is part of the conditioning we receive in our society of instant potatoes and instant results. It’s no wonder that most people who start something … quit. They stop because a change can be extremely demanding. A new change can prove very gratifying. It can also test you emotionally, physically, and spiritually, way beyond what you thought it might. If people would just allow for that challenge, and make themselves ready to take it on, we would have far fewer failures.
Quitting is not an option...as long as you are clear in your mind that you are doing what you should be doing. You Too Can BREAKTHROUGH! You can achieve impressive results if you make a goal, stick with it, and accept help from whatever source offers it.
Want to learn more about The Power To Change and sustaining the effort?
Visit my “on-line store” and invest in your own copy of The Power To Change. We have it in e-book and hard cover. We also have subliminal message audio files and various Special Reports on our website.