Here’s a post is about how real change occurs.
My inspiration comes from the I-Ching, or Book of Changes, which is a Chinese text of philosophy and divination written more than 5,000 years ago. It is organized in hexagrams, or patterns of six broken and unbroken lines. Here is hexagram 49-KO:
“No revolution in outer things is possible without prior revolution in one’s inner way of being. Whatever change you aspire to in your affairs must be preceded by a change in heart, an active deepening and strengthening of your resolve to meet every event with equanimity, detachment and innocent goodwill. When this spiritual poise is achieved within, magnificent things are possible without.”
I have seen the truth of this statement in myself and others. We often make the mistake of thinking that if we could just change our external circumstances, everything would be so much better. If we just had a different job or boss, if we could just live where there’s more opportunity, have a different partner, or more affordable housing, life would be so much more to our liking and we would do a better job of it.
However, real change does not occur from the outside in, but rather, from the inside out. Connecting with and sustaining what is most true within us, listening to our conscience, and having integrity in what we do and how we do it, allows us to find true peace and happiness.
Lasting change often begins with an internal shift. Consider what may need to evolve in your inner way of being. Are you holding onto resentment, anger, or outdated reactions that no longer serve you? If you notice yourself responding the same way in familiar situations—but wanting a different outcome—make a deliberate commitment to change your response and follow through.
Suggestions for meaningful inner change:
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Reframe how you see others. Identify behaviors in someone that trigger frustration, then intentionally note qualities you appreciate about that same person. Practice approaching them with goodwill rather than judgment.
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Reexamine your relationship with money. If finances are a recurring struggle, seek guidance from someone who manages money well. Learn how to adopt healthier financial habits and perspectives.
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Seek support to address ongoing suffering. When challenges feel overwhelming, professional help—such as a therapist, coach, counselor, or physician—can provide tools for healing and greater emotional balance.
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Avoid quick fixes. Sustainable change rarely comes from shortcuts. More often, it requires a shift in mindset that allows new and more positive experiences to emerge over time.
“Joy is not in things, it is in us,” wrote Richard Wagner, the 19th-century German composer and essayist. When we realize that external changes don’t make us happy and instead learn to adjust our internal state, we begin to know the secret of our true nature, which is sufficient unto itself.
Kathleen