TO some, change is a great storm that revolutionises the world, leaving it unrecognisable. To others, change is a small modification that makes life a little more different than it was yesterday. Change can also be characterised by its longevity. A transformation that lasts for a lifetime is much more valuable than one that lasts for a few moments. Depending on the context and the person, change can mean different things, and carry varying amounts of weight. One common factor amongst everyone is that change is necessary to live a meaningful life. Whether the change is a push towards healthier habits or a radical transformation of society, human beings simply cannot live a fulfilling life without being participants or recipients in the creation of some form of impactful difference.
The obvious obstacle to change is that it can be quite difficult to achieve any meaningful version of it.
The world is a vast web of interlinking factors, and attempting to correct a single problem ourselves often lands us in the middle of a tangled mess of unmanageable elements. With enough zeal and passion, we can navigate through this maze and make real progress. Nevertheless, the task can still begin to feel impossible.
Often, we believe that our ability to create change, whether in our own lives or in the world around us, depends simply on how much we want it to happen. The most discouraging part of failing to reach a milestone is not the failure at all, but the belief that we must not have been passionate enough about our cause. The achievement of goals, however, does not depend on our devotion to the task, but on our ability to see the bigger picture and create an effective plan.
Seeing the bigger picture involves observing our progress in the past and present, as well as defining the possibilities in the future. It is easy to get caught up in how far we need to go rather than celebrating how far we have already come. The best way to counteract this perspective is to create a roadmap centred on achieving smaller milestones rather than attempting to achieve enormous tasks in one go. This is the foundation of an effective plan.
Another element we often fail to consider in making effective plans is the role of others in achieving what we intend. We do not live solitary lives. This means that every choice we make and every day we live are shaped quite distinctly by our family members, friends, colleagues, and mentors. When we create personal goals, involving our friends and family as a support system can make an enormous difference in achieving them.
Similarly, when we wish to achieve a greater societal goal, the best course of action is to garner the support of a group of people with similar concerns and interests. It may be difficult for one person to reverse climate change or end a cruel war, but it is not so daunting for a group of 100 people to make a significant impact. At the very least, it is possible to create a small wave that splashes others, so they stop and listen to the voices that need to be heard.
The only time that change becomes impossible is when one fails to try at all. There is always something that needs to be different in our personal lives, in the communities that we live in, or in the world that we all occupy. A single, purposeful glance is all it takes to uncover a goal we can begin working towards.
Our volition is a powerful tool that we can use to shape a new future. The very act of perceiving a problem and choosing to do something about it alters the potential outcomes of our lives. What we choose to do with our lives lies in our own hands, but remember that it is not the improbability of a task that leads to the failure of its achievement, but rather failing to try in the first place.
