A Commitment To Change

The vast gap that exists between confrontation and avoidance is the space most of us choose to occupy when it comes to the often thorny issue of family relationships.

The problem with extremes is that they can be damaging. Confrontation rarely results in compromise. The usual result is that there’s a winner and there’s a loser. The winner is not necessarily right nor the loser wrong. And the issue remains.

Avoidance, though, can be equally damaging. Taking an occasional swipe at something emotionally painful before running for cover is tiring for all concerned. And the issue remains.

The best that we can hope for is personal peace. Coming to terms with whatever it is that is troubling us frees us to move forward.

Mindsets and opinions are not changed by force. Ultimately we are responsible for who we are and how we think. Frustration and heartache result if we attempt to force change on others.

It’s vital that we should put time and effort into understanding what’s going on in our own heads and hearts.

It’s essential that we grow to love the person we are if our objective is to love another.

The good news is that we are free to choose to change. If we are unable to love the person we have become it’s within our power to recreate…to rebuild.

And, just as there’s no-one who can do that for us, it’s not possible for us to do that for others.

Choosing to change must be followed by commitment to change. We can call on outside assistance but the real work must be self-generated.  Ridding ourselves of bad attitudes and behaviours is hard work but the reward is shedding some of the emotional baggage we have managed to collect during life’s journey.

Changing the world may not be possible but changing ourselves as individuals is achievable. And that alone will make the world a better place.