We can change in an instant!

[Tuumble]

I've been listening to one of my Tony Robbins CDs this week and one point keeps resonating with me which I perhaps did not fully take on board when I first played it...

'We can all change in an instant'

How true is that? All too often we see a big picture of where we are in life and see change as this difficult to overcome series of obstacles. A decision changes everything if done with conviction.

Our lives are dictated by our decisions and our reaction to the situations we are presented with. If only we are prepared to set ourselves free from the PERCEIVED consequences and DECIDE what we want the rapidity of change will surely accelerate.

How important then is gut feeling? If we consider all the consequences we are potentially letting in doubt. If we don't think about all the options are we missing an opportunity and headed up a blind alley?

How long do you dwell in your moments of decision?

For me, I have to relax a bit because when I do and don't skirt round an issue I find I get much better results. It's the consistency I need and now I recognise this, things can only get better.

[Iksander]

It is absolutely true, and you do hundreds of times a day - with each thought you think. There is, however, a set of thoughts you tend to 'keep thinking' which dictates your state of being/state of consciousness/etc...

Focus, meditation, and a relaxed attitude towards the desired change will help embody it.

"The wise and disciplined man sees no barrier to the realization of his desire; he sees nothing to destroy."

BTW: you can choose to let your life be ruled by PROACTIVE choices, rather than REACTIVE choices to the things you perceive external to you.

I rarely dwell in 'in-decision', I just go with it. Everytime I 'lept off the cliff' it has reaped incredible rewards for me in the evolution of my character.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Tuumble
'We can all change in an instant'

We change for good when we have reached what Robbins calls, “The threshold of tolerance.” …we change when something inside snaps… and we say to ourselves, “That’s it. I will not tolerate this anymore… this is what I’m going to do… this is who I’m going to be…”

That’s how Tony did it himself… and the world has not been the same since

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[Mark Lapierre]

Are we talking about changing core personality traits, or changing specific beliefs, or being able to make decisions quickly, confidently, and to stick to them?

What makes you you is a lifetime of experiences which shape your personality (as Iskander mentioned). I think it's extremely rare to find someone who can truly change any significant portion of their personality, including core beliefs, in an instant. In all the cases I've heard of the moment of change was simply the moment of realisation of the need for change. The change itself happened (or had been happening) over a much longer time.

You can change the way you behave in an instant only if you're the type of person who can take whatever action a decision requires while also ignoring all the reasons and inclinations to do otherwise. Habit is very powerful in its insistence that you do something you may decide not to do. I think the only way to override habitual responses is through significant willpower, or strong emotional motivation. (both of which are present when you reach that snapping point you mentioned Shamou) But even then those overriding factors need to be present each and every time that habitual response is triggered, until the new response becomes a habit replacing the old.

Perhaps this is why Tony is so effective in his motivational ability, because he provides the strong emotion which greatly aids what he's trying to achieve. In reality change doesn't happen in an instant, but it seems that way because he makes you believe that it's true, and so for you, it is.

[Freelancer]

I think a instant change is possible because I consider the descision TO change is already a HUGE change and will transform your life. The changes to your personality are almost after thoughts since you know what you will become if you stick to it long enough.

So yes a change can be instant but to the outside world it could take a while to realize the change.

A personal example with this;
Early January this year I decided that my life was going to change forever, I was going to change forever for the better all the time. My parents who are the closest to me and notice changes first didn't see anything untill 3 months or so later. Only than the changes started appearing in my behavior but inside I already changed just by deciding that I was going to change.

[JohnPlace]

Originally Posted by Mark Lapierre

Are we talking about changing core personality traits, or changing specific beliefs, or being able to make decisions quickly, confidently, and to stick to them?

What makes you you is a lifetime of experiences which shape your personality (as Iskander mentioned). I think it's extremely rare to find someone who can truly change any significant portion of their personality, including core beliefs, in an instant. In all the cases I've heard of the moment of change was simply the moment of realisation of the need for change. The change itself happened (or had been happening) over a much longer time.

You can change the way you behave in an instant only if you're the type of person who can take whatever action a decision requires while also ignoring all the reasons and inclinations to do otherwise. Habit is very powerful in its insistence that you do something you may decide not to do. I think the only way to override habitual responses is through significant willpower, or strong emotional motivation. (both of which are present when you reach that snapping point you mentioned Shamou) But even then those overriding factors need to be present each and every time that habitual response is triggered, until the new response becomes a habit replacing the old.

Perhaps this is why Tony is so effective in his motivational ability, because he provides the strong emotion which greatly aids what he's trying to achieve. In reality change doesn't happen in an instant, but it seems that way because he makes you believe that it's true, and so for you, it is.

Excellent post, Mark.

And might I add that a great many people need help reaching their snapping point. In my psychology class in college I remember reading that human beings tend to stand still when they feel pulled equally in two different directions. A person may feel pulled toward a genuine life change, but held in place by their old life.

For me, my tipping point came when I was laid off from work. Suddenly, the "holding" power of my old life was removed, and I felt myself pulled toward the destiny that had been building within me for years, which is why I finally started my Web Site.

Good thread!

[Vincentboucher]

yes you can change in an instant, Because of the plasticity of your neurons. I'm working with neuropsychologists and doctors , we are trying to make a powerful tool to re-program neurons. Something like the neuro-feedback but in better, really better.

[AndyMartin]

Originally Posted by Mark Lapierre

What makes you you is a lifetime of experiences which shape your personality (as Iskander mentioned). I think it's extremely rare to find someone who can truly change any significant portion of their personality, including core beliefs, in an instant. In all the cases I've heard of the moment of change was simply the moment of realisation of the need for change. The change itself happened (or had been happening) over a much longer time.

Excellent point, Mark. Rare indeed is the sort of person who can make truly significant change quickly. The question is, what makes that sort of person? Or more to the point, what can one do to be that sort of person?

I think it comes down to commitment. The human will is incredibly powerful. The proof is in how strongly we can cling to beliefs and behaviors that we think we want to change. But at the end of the day, if you want to make any significant change, you have to want it more than anything else in the world. More than any competing desire, belief, assumption, perception or self-gratification.

That's what it means to commit. But most of the time, we allow our commitment to vary according to circumstances and feelings when feelings and circumstances aren't even relevant. Either we are committed or we are not.

If you can learn to practice commitment on that level, you can change anything in a moment.

(If you find this idea compelling, check out my recent explorations of it on my blog.)

[Tuumble]

These are great points and while I agree I was merely pointing out that we can decide to do anything in an instant. Changing beliefs is going to take time but like anything, if get practiced at making decisions rather than going with the flow it does become easier.

I don't pretend it's easy especially if habits are deeply ingrained but we do have the power to chose our reactions in any given situation. If we only allow ourselves to fully believe that we always have a choice then anything is possible.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Tuumble

These are great points and while I agree I was merely pointing out that we can decide to do anything in an instant. Changing beliefs is going to take time but like anything, if get practiced at making decisions rather than going with the flow it does become easier.

I don't pretend it's easy especially if habits are deeply ingrained but we do have the power to chose our reactions in any given situation. If we only allow ourselves to fully believe that we always have a choice then anything is possible.

I believe, as Tony Robbins teaches, that you can change core beliefs or anything else when you have reached what he calls, "The Threshold of Tolerance." Or, to put it into another words, you can't take it anymore... and something has to change... and has to change right now...

That's when you do a 180 degree turn... and never look back...

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[Keith]

Philip J Eby once pointed out that people dochange easily and instantly. It's just that many people, when they don't see rapid results change right back again!

One of the good bits of advice in this blog entry is to not get too hung up on results - instead focus on your actions. If your goal is to lose weight, that's great - but odds are when you have a bad week and plateau you'll say "nuts to this!" and give up! But if the actions you take are goals in themselves, then you've achieved something! ("Darn, I didn't drop any weight this week, but I did go for a 2k jog - that's pretty impressive!").

Of course, the counterpoint is that you should keep an eye on if the actions are helping and revise if necessary...

[Cantando]

Originally Posted by Shamou

I believe, as Tony Robbins teaches, that you can change core beliefs or anything else when you have reached what he calls, "The Threshold of Tolerance." Or, to put it into another words, you can't take it anymore... and something has to change... and has to change right now... .

I can personally vouch for that. I was out of work last year for several months. I had failed a number of interviews and my confidence and self esteem were very low. I was driving to an interview, listening to one of Robbins' CDs. It was making sense. I then switched it off, and started shouting, as loudly as possible, things like, 'I will pass this interview', 'I am worth it', 'I am strong', 'I am full of energy'. I literally scared myself with the energy that was released. All the negativity and tiredness came out.
I bounced into that interview full of strength, confidence and vitality, and of course, passed the interview. I had two more interviews within the next couple of days, and I cruised through them as well. I could hardly believe it when one particular interviewer, said straight out, 'You sound just like the kind of guy we're looking for'.
Any time you feel low, especially if you're going to face an interview, an audience, etc, try it out.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Cantando

I can personally vouch for that. I was out of work last year for several months. I had failed a number of interviews and my confidence and self esteem were very low. I was driving to an interview, listening to one of Robbins' CDs. It was making sense. I then switched it off, and started shouting, as loudly as possible, things like, 'I will pass this interview', 'I am worth it', 'I am strong', 'I am full of energy'. I literally scared myself with the energy that was released. All the negativity and tiredness came out.
I bounced into that interview full of strength, confidence and vitality, and of course, passed the interview. I had two more interviews within the next couple of days, and I cruised through them as well. I could hardly believe it when one particular interviewer, said straight out, 'You sound just like the kind of guy we're looking for'.
Any time you feel low, especially if you're going to face an interview, an audience, etc, try it out.

That is beautiful Cantando... Thank you for sharing that with us...

As Robbins would say, "You changed your physiology so it changed you state." (For the non Robbins fans... it means that if you change your body posture and breathing pattern you also change your state of mind...)

Cantando... you changed from wimp to winner... Great and fantastic job...

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