How do we make sure our change is permanent and not fleeting??

[Kch]

in our quest to become our best selves how do we make sure the changes we make are permanent and stay. Is it just through repetition and knowing what you want?

any thoughts?

[Angela]

I don't make changes with the intention of them being "permanent." I view the changes as being useful as long as they're useful, and then perhaps it'll be time for another change.

[AllTogetherNow]

when i get positive results, i keep doing what works. and the more it works to keep getting results, the more i keep doing it; along with always adding more. it just follows naturally. at least for me. i don't go back to doing old habits that i've discarded or changed, cause that would put me back into whatever it was that i worked on breaking through.

[Rimuel]

If you agree with the argument that humans are energy beings, and that resonating with specific energies causes us to manifest what we want into reality (i.e. LoA), then the point is definitely not about keeping permanent change.

It is to build the convincing belief that you can change what you wish to change, regardless of your spatio-temporal location. If you've lost tons of weight before, it wouldn't matter if you became overweight again. If you've done it once, why can't you do it again?

The mindset of "I can change this" creates a high level of vibration, which allows you to manifest more things than the mindset of "I can't change most things" or "I can't change anything."

Furthermore, beliefs tend to generalize after consistent confirmation. Continual improvement in one area will lead you from the belief "I change this (specific problem)" to "I can change (anything)". This is how the mind works; it's called abstraction.

[Prinie]

When it comes from within. Change radiates from the inside out.

[Verlan]

In terms of 'old state' (the one you're changing from) and 'new state' (the one you're changing to), here are some basic tactics for making changes stick.

Balance - make sure your new state meets all emotional needs your old one does (for example, if you quit watching TV, find a healthy replacement for your entertainment/relaxation needs)

Flexibility - make sure your new state is flexible enough to accommodate all your needs (if your new sleep schedule conflicts with your work schedule, one or the other will have to go)
Btw, simplifying your life for the period of the transition is a valid solution (less need for flexibility while you're learning)

Burning bridges - make your old state difficult/painful/impossible (example: throw away all the unhealthy food in your fridge when switching to a new diet)

[Verlan]

Originally Posted by Angela

I don't make changes with the intention of them being "permanent." I view the changes as being useful as long as they're useful, and then perhaps it'll be time for another change.

I like this approach

[Verlan]

Oh, and I think part of the problem is that it's fairly common to expect changes to be like 'flipping a switch' - to in a short period achieve a powerful and permanent charge.
Then, should you eventually 'slip up', you might find yourself getting dispirited and thinking 'the change didn't work', resulting in giving up.
(Well, I know I've done this and thought this way, and still might find myself do)

If I analyze a single change in the dimensions of Tenacity (resilience to difficulty), Start Effort and Maintain Effort, a typical change might have following phases.

1. Change takes continuous effort to maintain.
2. Change takes effort to start, and will continue on autopilot (little/no effort) until moderate difficulty is encountered.
3. Change takes some effort to start, and will continue on autopilot until extreme difficulty is encountered.
4. Charge is permament unless extreme difficulty is encountered (will restart automatically afterwards.)
5. Charge is permanent, period.

So the point is, a 'failure' may well be, and often is a part of the natural change process. Success is on the far side of failure and all that.

[Angela]

The most profound changes I've made have taken place in the blink of an eye, after which I either can't remember what my problem was or I laugh out loud that it was ever a problem.

For instance, I used to be the most shy person on the planet. It was a terrible problem for me and stopped me in all kinds of ways. I managed to cope with it and compensate -- most people thought I was fairly outgoing, even. Then one weekend I did change work, and went from being crazy* shy to being a little bit befuddled that I had ever BEEN shy -- and it didn't take long before I could hardly even remember what shy felt like.

It's fun to change like that.

[*]* Crazy is thinking you don't have any choice.

[Verlan]

Originally Posted by Angela

The most profound changes I've made have taken place in the blink of an eye, after which I either can't remember what my problem was or I laugh out loud that it was ever a problem.

For instance, I used to be the most shy person on the planet. It was a terrible problem for me and stopped me in all kinds of ways. I managed to cope with it and compensate -- most people thought I was fairly outgoing, even. Then one weekend I did change work, and went from being crazy* shy to being a little bit befuddled that I had ever BEEN shy -- and it didn't take long before I could hardly even remember what shy felt like.

It's fun to change like that.

[*]* Crazy is thinking you don't have any choice.

Aww, now I'm jealous.
Well, a little bit.

Happy for you

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Verlan

Aww, now I'm jealous.
Well, a little bit.

Happy for you

I think what it takes for that kind of change is to move beyond the box of one's habitual thinking, so that you're not trying to fix something that's wrong or make something better (fixing and improving just keep you in the realm of problem and struggle), but are actually outside of the problem entirely, looking at it from the perspective of no-problem or Possibility.

I love NLP for that.

[Kronique]

if you keep momentum building, and FORGIVE YOURSELF for falling back at times (we all do it its okay) you will figure it out.

Mostly its because you have this inner issue:
"I have to change!"
"I dont want to work right now~!"

Both things are keeping you in a state of equilibrium. Its the perfectionist attitude. You cant say i want something thats impossible and ignore where you are now.

You need to accept for yourself the way you are now, and say this "I don't have to start until im ready"

You have to give yourself reason to explore and be curious. You cant damn yourself because you cant figure it out right now. Its a process of learning. Get a mentor and talk to them all the time, this is also important. You need outside support, and someone who accepts you. You have to use inner guidance and not a rigid regimen all the time. Working because you WANT TO is way more effective.

[Alice Hive]

You will learn something from every change - so change will change you permanently.