What exactly is a personal transformation? The dictionary says that transformation is the act or process of being transformed.  So we are talking about change, but what kind of change?

Well, it could be anything from subtle changes in our personality to a complete, personal metamorphosis.

What do you want to change?

Maybe we want to change the way we look. Perhaps we feel that losing 10 or 15 pounds, and getting back in shape, would make a big difference.

We may want to change the way we relate to other people. Perhaps we feel that our life would be a more positive experience, if we could just improve the quality of our relationships. In other words, we want to develop more people skills.

Many people are hurting because of the economic downturn, and consequently, they are looking for a positive financial change, a financial transformation.

What does personal transformation mean to you?

When you think about a personal transformation, what comes to your mind?

Most of us probably think of some radical, all-encompassing change in a positive direction. We might think of elevating the quality of our whole life to an unprecedented degree.

That sounds really good, doesn’t it?

But, is such a transformation within the realm of reality, or is it just something to dream about? And, if it were within the realm of reality, what kinds of skills would be required to pull it off?

If it was possible, what would be involved?

Since a transformation is an ongoing process, obviously it requires some kind of systematic approach. A caterpillar does not become a butterfly by accident. Such a major transformation happens over a period of time, and involves a series of essential steps.

Doesn’t it seem logical that successfully elevating the quality of our life to an unprecedented degree would require a similar process? There are, in fact, certain essential steps that must be followed in the correct order. If we skip a step, or change the order, we won’t get the same results.

This does not necessarily mean the process is difficult. Making a cake requires a similar process, and yet, millions of people are capable of doing it. They simply follow a recipe that tells them what to do, and when.

Think about this next question carefully?

What if you had a life transformation recipe? Would you be willing to follow it?

If you had never made a cake before, would you try it without a recipe? If you did, what do you think would be your chances of success? How long would it take before you finally happened on the correct ingredients, and the right sequence?

Most of us are smart enough to realize the folly of such an approach.

Now, let’s apply that reasoning to creating the life we really want. Are we fumbling around in the kitchen trying to figure out what comes next, or are we following a recipe?

Designing a personal transformation is a lot more involved than making a cake. But, don’t be overwhelmed by the seeming complexity of such a challenge. It’s not as difficult as you might think, once you have the recipe.

When do you want it?

Life is far too short, and far too valuable to waste time trying to figure out what works, and what doesn’t if we don’t have to. The sooner we learn the life skills we need, the faster we will get the results we truly want.

Once we have a systematic approach, and know how to apply the skills we have learned, life becomes a whole new experience. Struggle is replaced by welcome challenges, and frustration gives way to purpose and satisfaction.

Regardless of what we want to change, all true transformation always begins on the inside. Once we become the person we want to be on the inside, our world rearranges itself accordingly. It doesn’t matter whether we want to be thinner, happier, richer, healthier, or all of those things, it always starts on the inside.

What can you do about it?

If you’re tired of fumbling around, looking for the answers, and wondering what comes next, now is a perfect chance to turn things around. Please, do yourself a favor – take a look at the recipe.

What area of your like would you like to transform?
How long have you felt that way?
The lines are open!

When it comes to making transformations in your life, what approach do you favor? Do you like to rush right in and shake things up, or do you prefer to ease into it at a slower pace?

Both of these approaches to personal transformation can produce good results. However, understanding and using the one that actually works for you can greatly increase those results. Let’s take a closer look at these two techniques.

The Personal Transformation Tortoise

This is usually the choice of those who are uncomfortable with change. They like the sense of security that comes from making small, calculated adjustments in a measured way. Rather than disrupting the orderliness of their world, they change one thing at a time and then evaluate.

If you reflect on the story of the tortoise and the hare, you will recall that this approach won the race. There are definite advantages to “slow and steady,” and in some situations this is the most reasonable approach for everyone.

For example, if you are out of shape and you want to take up running, it wouldn’t be very wise to run ten miles your first day. Slow and steady is obviously the better choice. And this same principal applies to many areas of life. So we should never underestimate the power of “slow and steady” when it comes to transforming your life.

The Personal Transformation Hare

For those who are more comfortable with radical change, this will often be the preferred approach. It’s a way of really shaking things up that basically amounts to a giant pattern interrupt. Instead of trying to maintain orderliness, this method approaches personal transformation with a more adventurous spirit.

Changing our established response patterns often requires this type of planned disruption. When attempting to break out of familiar or customary behavior, we may need to introduce a number of new elements into the picture to avoid responding “as usual.”

Don’t automatically assume that this approach is more haphazard or reckless. In reality, both approaches require preparation and forethought to be successful. It is always in our best interest to be adaptable enough to use whichever approach is likely be most effective in any given set of circumstances.

What works best for me!

As you can tell by the title of my book, I’m into Simple Steps to Quickly Transform Your Life. I like fast results where possible, but I am also after those long term benefits that come only with time. In other words, I use a combined approach whenever I can.

We have already established that both approaches have their strong points. Where possible, I use a system that allows me to enjoy the best of both worlds. Using this approach has allowed me to successfully transform many areas of my life in the shortest possible time, without sacrificing long term results. Here’s how I do it.

The interval approach to personal transformation

If you have ever used interval fitness training, then you know that it involves moving from one thing to another. That’s the approach I like to use when transforming any aspect of my life. If the situation allows for it, I will use some kind of disruptive approach to produce rapid change. Then I will adopt a more “steady as she goes” approach while I get my bearings.

Once I have adapted to my new level of change, I look for my next opportunity to make another quantum leap. To illustrate, if I were traveling on foot toward a predetermined destination, this is what I would do. I would run for awhile, then I would switch to walking just long enough to catch my breath and asses my progress. When I was ready, I would go back to running, followed by more walking.

The beauty of this approach is that my forward momentum never stops. I simply go from rapid progress to steady progress, and repeat.

The benefits of rapid transformation

Anytime you can experience fast results, it will encourage you to keep moving forward. I don’t care whether you are starting a new business, trying to lose weight, or mastering some new skill. The faster you see a reward for you efforts, the more likely you are to keep going.

Meaningful results are usually cumulative and require consistent effort. Anything that helps you hang in there for the long haul is going to raise your chances of success. Seeing positive results after a short period of focused effort can provide all the motivation you need to make it to the next milestone. This process is progressive, and is fueled by positive feedback in the form of continued results.

Personal transformation by design

Whatever your approach to creating a personal transformation, your preparation and forethought will have a direct influence on your results. So, before you take any action at all, I encourage you to design a tentative plan of action. I say tentative because you will need the flexibility to make adjustments as you progress.

Here are a five questions to consider when designing your personal transformation:

1) What exactly do you want to transform? You may have a good idea of what you want to change, but what will that change look like? If you want to get in better shape physically, for example, you need to specify what that means. If it means losing weight, then how much? If it means increasing your skill level in some activity, then how will you measure it?

2) How long will this transformation take? Time frames motivate us to take action. You need to assign a time limit to the transformational process. The only transformation that takes place without your input is aging, everything else happens by design. Give yourself the advantage that comes from creating a time frame and your results will increase exponentially.

3) How important is this transformation to you personally? We all have a variety of things demanding our attention. As a consequence, most of us operate on a priority system. In other words, we do whatever is most important at the time. To make a meaningful transformation in some important area of your life, you will need to assign it a high priority.

4) Why are you doing it? I always say that a person can do anything if they have a good enough reason. So, what’s your reason? Make sure you understand why making this transformation is important to you. Without a good reason you might give up when you encounter obstacles. Get clear on your reasons “why” before you start.

5) What approach are you going to use? Are you going to be a tortoise, a hare, or some combination of the two? If you are looking for rapid change then how will you accomplish that? Even if you are using the “slow and steady” approach, you will still need a way to measure progress against your time frame. If you choose intervals, what are they going to be.

Get some help if you need it

One of the main reasons why people are unable to transform different areas of their lives, is they simply don’t understand the process. Positive transformations do not happen by accident, they happen by design. Skills are involved, and these are not the kind of skills we were taught in school.

Transformational skills are not difficult, but they are highly specialized. If you don’t know these skills, then it can seem almost impossible to change the things you want to change. That’s why I wrote 7 Simple Steps, it is a step by step life transformation guide. It’s easy to follow and produces remarkable results.

The important point here is this; if you need to learn these skills so you can transform various areas of your life, then take the time to do so. Find a reputable source of reliable information and learn the skills you need to create the life you want. Please don’t settle for ordinary, because you really can have extraordinary.

What’s your favorite transformation technique?
How successful are you in this area of life?
The lines are open!

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