On one of my other blogs a couple of days ago, I wrote a post and created a video talking about the concept of "focus" as it pertains to goal setting to get things done and improve one's life. After doing that, I started thinking about the issue of why we don't always grow or push forward when almost every person I meet says they want to improve in some fashion.

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I know that earlier this year, within the last month, I was thinking of why we don't change as well, and I came to the conclusion that most of us see change as hard, something going against the grain of our comfort zone. As a matter of fact, I touched upon the concept in my last post on incompatible goals to a degree as well.

In this case I've wondered whether a part of the issue that how we view change in general. Is it possible that our mental barrier against change is that we see it as something drastic that has to occur, and that we're not ready for drastic? Could drastic be the reason people can't stop smoking, or I can't give up desserts? Could be... but it doesn't have to be.

If I can use myself as an example of sorts, I'd like to talk about diabetes, being diabetic. When I was first diagnosed in 1997, the belief was that I needed to immediately change everything I ate, how I ate, and adopt a totally different lifestyle. That immediate change led me to lose 20 pounds in six weeks. It also led to my giving it up after those six weeks because it was hard to do. Anyone working knows that having to be that regimented when your life isn't immediately on the line and having to give up everything, and I do mean everything, that you previously enjoyed, is a recipe for disaster.

Over the years I've been really good and I've been sort of bad. By sort of bad, I mean that very rarely I have one of those days where mentally I don't care and I'll eat a lot of stuff I shouldn't eat, usually all at one time. The results aren't pretty, my body lets me know that, and I start acting better afterwards. I've always liked my desserts, and to this day I've reduced how much dessert I have but I've never totally given it up for a long period of time.

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However, it's not only desserts. I loved pasta, but I found that was much easier to give up because, of all things, pasta hurts me more than desserts do. I still eat pasta, but now it's maybe once every 2 to 3 months.

In a way it's like my preparation in the 80's against high blood pressure, which we all knew ran in the family on both sides, and had taken the life of many relatives via strokes and other things. I had started reducing my salt intake in the 80's while I was still in my 20's because I wanted to avoid that, and to this day I've never come close to having high blood pressure.

But none of the family had talked about diabetes until I was in my mid 30's, and by that time it was too late to totally reduce or reduce as much as I needed to in order to stave it off longer. Still, I've reduced over the years, cut out sweet drinks, have maybe 3 or 4 milkshakes a year, and that's pretty much that. Yes, I'm on medication, but I'm a much better shopper because I read labels, do exchanges, and for the most part keep it under some kind of control. The small changes helped a lot and pushed me forward, even if those not in the know think I should be doing more.

Quite often simple changes can bring big results. Taking small chances can do the same thing. In the video below I talk about that with 5 concepts and small stories or examples to help reinforce my belief. As we enter a new year I figured this was one way to help people realize that change doesn't have to be drastic, and resolutions don't have to be big. Let me know your thoughts on change, and if you watch the video let me know your thoughts on that as well: