Change or Die.

During racial sensitivity training a couple weeks ago, the facilitators wanted to stress how easy it is to learn something new, its significance and application to everyday life, and still not follow through. Of course they were referring to the new ideas and facts we had learned about working, interacting and loving in a diverse culture, and they illustrated the point by discussing the concept of “Change or Die.” It is one thing, they posited, to receive and learn useful information. However, it is another to use that information to make a difference in our own and the lives of others.

They asked us to guess how many people change permanently (where change = choice + initial success) or die. Only 10% of people change. (For an illustration of research from the health care field now being used by business professionals, read here ). So someone who has had an angioplasty will change their lifestyle only 10% of the time. Someone who learns a new health or spiritual principle that requires drastic change will only apply it successfully 10% of the time. It was a staggering, but not surprising statistic. Sad, but encouraging. I know for me it will will help me be a lot more sensitive and compassionate to myself and to others when we find our conditions or circumstances hard to get out of. But, I think knowledge of the concept is a tool in and of itself.

The article mentioned above addresses that crisis situations are often insufficient catalysts for long-term change. So, that pending divorce, heart attack, or the risk of losing a job is not enough. We have to change how we think and feel about a matter to make lasting change. “The cumulative weight of experience makes it harder to change,” and researchers have linked the ability to change to “mental rejuvenation” and “complex new learning.”

What does this mean for the YBP? Well, I have recently heard insanity defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. If we want a new result in our spiritual, physical, romantic/interpersonal, or professional life, if we really want to do something different, it is time for a radical change. It is time to learn a new habit (which we know it takes 21 times to make something a habit) and sing a new song. It is time to give up those things, people, ideas and situations that no longer serve our best interests or speak to who we believe ourselves to be. Let’s do it! Let’s take that step and make that big change. There’s so much life on the other side.