It´s often said that a person has to want change in order to make it happen.
In my experience, this is true.
Willingness is a vital part of the puzzle if we want to change something in our lives.
Without it, there’s almost no chance that change can happen. Or, it’s certainly going to be a lot more difficult!
If you’re struggling with this motivation in areas of your life. Or it feels too difficult and hopeless. Don’t worry as there are steps that can be taken to cultivate willingness.
The first step is to assess what it is that you really want in your life.
What matters to you?
What’s important to you?
Once you have these values together, you may notice that they can often be in direct contradiction to some of the things in your life that you want to change.
With these values front and centre, try having a look at how effective your current behaviour or situation is at bringing you towards what’s important to you.
Do you value your friends and family?
Yet your drinking is driving people away.
Is all you crave connection with someone else?
But your anxiety is keeping you from taking steps to meet other people and connect with friends.
Do you want more fun and freedom in your life?
Yet anxieties and compulsions prevent you from living this way.
Is what you’re doing, not really working?
By exploring how effective your current behaviours are at helping move towards who you want to be, it can be easier to build up that willingness to change.
Once that’s been developed, we often need to remind ourselves of these values and the reality of how effective our behaviours are.
Keeping these close to our hearts can really help sustain that willingness to change when the times get tough.
Motivations will drop. How many of us have started a new diet, exercise regime or project only to let it go a few days later.
I know, I have. Multiple times.
However, there are some situations where it’s too important not to explore strengthening our willingness. For if we can do that, then it truly can be life-changing.