Intentional Change

Changing our own behavior requires intentionality.

We gravitate toward what’s familiar. It’s human nature. Even when it’s miserable, it’s what we know. It explains why we stay with crappy habits, relationships, and patterns of living.

We know better, and yet, we keep doing it.

People ask me, “How do I change?” Lately, I’ve found myself answering the question through the image of a rubber band.

A rubber band looks a certain way when it’s just laying  there. To change how it looks, you have to be intentional about it. Whenever you stop stretching it in a new direction, it snaps right back to what it knows.

When you stretch it so far that it gets close to breaking, there is a hesitancy that it’s going to snap and hurt you. We release the pressure and the rubber band returns to what it knows. If you just keep holding it without really stretching, you’ll eventually tire and quit.

Keep pulling until the pattern breaks.

Move in the direction of where you want to go. You will break the old pattern of living and create a new one. It’s going to feel uncomfortable even when it’s better for you.

Fear may cause you to retreat to what’s familiar. Don’t do it. Keep going.

When it snaps, there may be a little sting, but the freedom is amazing!