| One of my favorite quotes comes from Reinhold | | | | implement change if you really want to. Mustering the |
| Niebuhr. He said "God, grant me the serenity to | | | | courage to facilitate change depends on how much |
| accept the things I cannot change, the courage to | | | | you desire it. The more you desire change, the easier |
| change the things I can, and the wisdom to know | | | | it will be to start. But you must start somewhere. |
| the difference." I think that most people have seen | | | | Then take baby steps until you reach your final goal. |
| or heard this quote at some point in their lives. It is | | | | There are times in life when you may be on the |
| extremely powerful and life changing once you | | | | fence about whether or not you can change a |
| understand, embrace, and implement it. The purpose | | | | situation. Develop a list with two columns. In one |
| of this article is to offer advice on how to implement | | | | column, list what you can change about the situation. |
| this philosophy in your life. | | | | In the second column, list what you are incapable of |
| There are things in life that you can't change no | | | | changing. Sometimes this will highlight whether or not |
| matter how much you might want to or how hard | | | | you can change a situation. If you're still struggling, |
| you try. For example, you might want to be a brain | | | | solicit feedback from family members, friends, |
| surgeon but experience severe spasticity in one of | | | | coworkers, and neighbors about your specific |
| your hands, preventing you from performing intricate | | | | situation and challenge. The great thing about soliciting |
| surgery. Or, you might want to be an airline pilot but | | | | input from a wide variety of people is that they |
| are blind. In situations such as these, you need to find | | | | often think differently and offer varying perspectives. |
| a way to make peace with the things you cannot | | | | By listening to them, it may provide the information |
| change. Although it may not always seem possible, | | | | and knowledge you need to make a final, but wise, |
| explore opportunities to participate in things you love | | | | decision. |
| in other ways, such as teaching. It may not be in the | | | | By considering the advice provided above, it is my |
| manner you desire most, but at least you will be | | | | hope that you will explore ways to accept those |
| involved and living your passion to some degree. | | | | things in life that you cannot change, that you |
| If you do have control and can change certain items | | | | develop the strength and devise a game plan to |
| in life, then develop a game plan to do so. If you are | | | | change those things you can, and that you develop a |
| scared to change or don't know how to go about it, | | | | network of people, from whom you can solicit input |
| ask family members, friends or your co-workers for | | | | and advice, to help you determine what you can or |
| advice or support; seek coaching or counseling | | | | can't change when you are indecisive. |
| therapy, read a "how to do it" manual/book; take an | | | | Copyright 2010 © Sharon L. Mikrut, All rights |
| assertive class; etc. There are a number of ways to | | | | reserved. |