Change does not live in isolation

My work and the work of my colleagues is about change. Whether it be nutrition or training or behavior; change is the desired outcome. Research and practice both either observe or promote change. It is the thesis of our industry.

When people come to us for help to achieve some goal, they are hiring a facilitator for change. Often, though, there is a misconception that change will happen in a vacuum. The reality, however, is much more complex.

Change is transactional; our behaviors and actions affect our environment and others. In turn, our environment and those in it affect our behaviors and actions. We are all interconnected and therefore our path toward change can never be predicted with any certainty, there are too many variables.

Despite the persistent nature of change we tend to cling to the familiar, to crave homeostasis. It is in our nature and if we ourselves are creating action toward change our environment and those in it may resist. This is all part of this transactional nature. Push and pull. Give and take.

The more we can accept that our desire for change does not live in isolation, the more we can accept the fluidity of life and the non-linear action of process. Be aware of your effect on environment. Be aware of your effect on others. And be aware of their effect on you.