A while back, I was asked to speak to the the question: What is the biggest challenge or obstacle to change that needs to be overcome in order for a person to reach a goal and make a vision come true? I took a few minutes and recorded a video with my response, but I never got around to posting it. Why? Because it just didn’t feel right to do so.

I sit here now and realize that it didn’t feel right because, first, I failed to fully answer the question that I was asked. Second, the post was not in alignment with my correct timing, which, coincidentally was a large component that was missing from my first response. And, third, I don’t know that answering this question addressed what I feel is the most important issue when it comes to creating a vision and working to make it come true and that is – is this vision in alignment with the person’s soul purpose? If it is not, that in and of itself creates a bigger problem that must be addressed before even beginning the process of change. So, here, today, I will respond to the question at hand with MY opinion on the subject of change.

I believe that each and every one of us was born with a purpose for our lives. We were created with our own gifts suited to fit that unique purpose. Even in unawareness, we are influenced by this principle, however we are also influenced by the forces of our own ego and then the world has its own set of expectations and assertions about the way that we should live our lives. These forces are often in conflict with one another making it very difficult for us to choose the right course of action needed in order to create a vision for ourselves.

This conflict, on a subconscious level, can sabotage our effort to move in one direction or another. Sometimes this is a good thing because it can keep us from moving out of alignment with our purpose when the change, that vision, comes from a place of ego or a worldly influence. However, when the change we are attempting will move us INTO alignment but our ego gets in the way, we may be kept from living out our true purpose. Either way, that conflict that we feel between the entities of purpose, ego, and world can be enough that it keeps us from putting in the effort to make a change.

So there we are, trying to move, but we don’t know which way to go or we find ourselves stuck. This can be enlightening. We can use that space as a place to learn about alignment of timing – patience. We can use that space to discern the right next attempt both in timing and action and create a plan for how to proceed – purpose. We can use that space to unpack some of our other gifts and strengths that may help us try again – resilience/persistence/growth. On the flipside, we may fall into a place of frustration, anger, discouragement, apathy. This may result in following the path of least resistance which will likely be far from the path of purpose. And equally unfortunate would be to take the road that everyone else is taking because at the very least, we wouldn’t  be alone in that journey. Yes, we would have company and it may even be fun and glamorous, but it’s not really speaking to who we were created to be.

So, let’s say we have come to the conclusion that the change we are attempting to make is in alignment with our purpose AND the timing is right, what’s to stop us at that point? This is that topic that I spoke to in my first attempt to respond to the aforementioned question. My answer – MINDSET.

Our mindset can be our fuel for change. Conversely, it can also put the brakes on any attempts at forward movement. We have to get our mindset right so that we can get out of our own way and allow the aligned change to occur.

Mindset is our attitudes, our beliefs, our habits. It’s our automatic reaction to situations. It’s our method for making decisions. It is passively shaped by our experiences, lifestyle, families, cultures – everything. It can have a positive impact, negative impact, or be neutral. Fortunately, we have the ability to consciously shift our mindset and create new ways of thinking that allow us to overcome obstacles and challenges and reach the goals that will help to make our vision a reality.

Changing mindset is not easy. It is the first thing that needs to be assessed before an attempt at making a positive change can begin. We have to know where we have been and where we are now before making a map of where we are going and figuring out how we are going to get there. The beauty of the process is that when the timing is right and our mindset and actions are in alignment, nothing can stop us!