Embrace Change

The process of change, and its effect on moving us closer to our desired outcome.

Today we are celebrating Independence Day in the U.S. As you
enjoy the fireworks and the picnics, please recognize how fortunate
we are to be living in the greatest time in all of human history. Be
truly grateful--today, and every day--for the wonderful country
(and world) in which we live!

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Table of Contents:

1. Baby Steps
2. Feature Article: EMBRACE CHANGE
3. Quotes
4. Recommended Resources: Change
5. Self-Care
6. Final Thoughts: The Butterfly

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1. Baby Steps

"Life will never be the same. Life is changing." This statement is
more true today than ever. Profound changes are indeed taking
place in our world today, and these changes are occurring at rapidly
increasing rates. Furthermore, the changes are affecting virtually
ever aspect of our lives, unlike ever before.

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2. Feature Article: EMBRACE CHANGE

We need not look far to see change happening. In government and
politics, democracy and free enterprise continues to spread around
the world. In technology, PC processors are available with an
astounding speed of 1GHz. In business, Fortune 500 companies
announced 66,000 layoffs in January 2001 alone, including cuts by
Lucent, Xerox, and AOL Time Warner. The rate of failed marriages
has more than doubled from the early 1960s to the present, reaching
a point where almost half of all marriages ended in divorce.

Change is inevitable. The idea that "the only constant is change" has
been around at least since the time of Heracleitus, circa 500 B.C. The
only questions that remain are "how much?" and "how fast?"

If we are changing, and the world is changing, then why do we
resist it? Why do we feel as though it is not necessary to change,
despite considerable evidence that almost everything in the world
is changing around us?

The idea of having to change ourselves is uncomfortable. Reactions
to the notion of change range from uncertainty and doubt, to blinding
fear. As these feeling emerge, we retreat back to our comfort zone of
safety and security. These feelings can render us powerless around the
needs to make certain decisions, which causes us to remain as we are.

But change is essential, as it is the only way for growth and
improvement to occur. This is true in our world, and in our personal
lives. As Albert Einstein observed, "The significant problems we face
cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them."
Although not all change is improvement, without change there can
simply be no improvement.

So, how can you ease the process of change? How do you begin to
embrace and create change in your life that will empower you, and
cause you to grow? Here are a few steps that will move you along
that path:

1. Realize that there's no security in the status quo. The sense of
security that we get from remaining in our comfort zone is a false
one. The fact of the matter is, when you're through changing, you're
through living. It is only by going outside your comfort zone that
you can achieve significant breakthroughs in your life.

2. Become a change catalyst. Be proactive in aligning yourself with
the change agents in our world--technology, science and education.
Create an action plan for the opportunities in your life. Notice the
outcomes, and analyze your results. In addition to the changes that
will begin to occur in your own life, you will become a leader for
others, as well.

3. Be patient. The process of change happens slowly and subtly over
time. This sometimes presents a challenge for those of us who are
used to instant results. Recognize, though, that change consists of a
series of small steps, each of which moves you closer to your
desired outcome.

4. Adapt, as necessary. In times of drastic change, it is the adapters who
prevail. Although you cannot change the direction of the wind, you
can certainly change the direction of your sails. Stay the course, and
let it move you in the direction of your destination.

Change is a choice, and you can make a choice today to change.
And when change is successful, you will look back on it and call it
growth. It's never too late to change, so start today!

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3. Quotes

Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.
Karen Kaiser Clark

Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change
the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead

In times of profound change, the learners inherit the earth, while
the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a
world that no longer exists.
Al Rogers

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
Mohandas Gandhi

Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know
the difference.
Saint Francis of Assisi

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4. Recommended Resources: Change

Take Charge of Your Life
by Jim Rohn

America's foremost business philosopher arms you with tools
to improve the quality of your life. Jim is a pleasure to listen to,
and his talks are chock full of ideas to help you achieve personal
success.
To order tape set, click here

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
by Stephen R. Covey

This is one of those books in your library that should be read every
few years. It serves as a reminder of how to achieve fulfillment in
every area of your life.
To order book, click here

Who Moved My Cheese?
by Spencer Johnson

This is a charming parable of four mice who learn to accept and
adapt to change to get what they need. The book is simple, and a
very quick read. I found the principle of "do what you would do if
you were not afraid" to be especially powerful!
To order book, click here

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5. Self-Care

The Baroque period of music covers most of the 17th century and
half of the 18th century. Although this music has been around for a
long time, only recently have we begun to understand the amazing
affect that Baroque music has on learning, health and creativity.

Much of our recent knowledge in this field has been built on the
pioneering research by Bulgarian psychiatrist and educator Georgi
Lozanov. In the 1950's, Lozanov set out to determine why some
people have super-memories. After years of research, he concluded
that we each have an optimal learning state, and that this occurs
"where heart-beat, breathing and brain-waves are smoothly
synchronized and the body is relaxed but the mind concentrated
and ready to receive new information." Interestingly, the most
common music to achieve that state comes from the Baroque period.

Many other researchers have built on his research, and it has been
demonstrated that baroque music accelerates learning, improves
both short-term and long-term memory, enhances creativity and
relieves stress. Researchers have found that the music produces a
powerful form of "alert relaxation," a state in which the body
functions more efficiently on less energy, making more energy
available for the brain.

How can we utilize this knowledge in our lives? Corporations, as
well as schools and universities, are using baroque to cut learning
time in half and increase retention of new materials. In the work
place, music can raise performance levels and productivity by
reducing stress and tension. You can also play it in your car, in order
to arrive at your destination more relaxed, less stressed and able to
think more calmly and clearly. Finally, baroque music can be played
at home during children's homework time to enhance learning, or
during rest periods and bedtime to assist relaxation and sleep.

There is an abundance of baroque music available, including several
compilations that are specifically geared toward enhanced learning.
Vivaldi's Four Seasons is one of the most famous pieces of baroque
music. Handel's Water Music and Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D
are also great. Corelli, Bach and Mozart are other composers from
the baroque school.

Give yourself the gift of baroque music, and use it to accelerate
learning, enhance creativity and reduce stress in your life, and in the
lives of those around you.

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6. Final Thoughts: The Butterfly

A man found a cocoon for a butterfly. One day a small opening
appeared, and the man sat and watched the butterfly for several
hours as it struggled to force its body through the little hole.

Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It wasn't moving, so
the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors
and snipped the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then
emerged easily.

But something was strange. The butterfly had a swollen body and
shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly, because
he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and
expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in
time. Neither happened. In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its
life crawling around with a swollen body and deformed wings. It
was never able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that
the restricting cocoon, and the struggle required for the butterfly to
get through the small opening of the cocoon, are nature's way of
forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings, so that it
would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were
allowed to proceed through life without any obstacles, that would
cripple us. We would not be as strong as we could have been. Not only
that, we would never be able to fly.

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Thank you for reading the LifeExcellence Newsletter. Embrace
CHANGE this week!
- Brian Bartes

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