Monday, August 3, 2009

An irony of being human is evident in change. While there definitely is one part of a being that wants to change, there is another part of a being that simply does not want to change. For example, changing a bad habit is something all people should work to do, yet resistance to altering habitual behaviors is very high. Research on alcoholics reveals some interesting information about resistance to change. In a study on alcoholism, Annika Jakobsson, Gunnel Hensing, and Fredrik Spak (Alcohol and Alcoholism, Volume 40, Number 2, March 2005) found developing a willingness to change to be the basic psychosocial process that leads to treatment-seeking. The only pre-requisite for starting a journey of discovery is that people must be willing to learn, admitting that there are things as yet not understood about their lives and about life in general. It involves a commitment to seeking answers. The human mind contains many wrong answers. Thus, a Clearing is necessary. Clearing is the process of realizing and rejecting the wrong answers. The truth of the matter is that there is usually nothing wrong with people who use wrong answers. But, these people in need of change have incorrectly identified with answers that were currently wrong for them, yet they have yet to discover another solution that works. Many solutions usually exist that await discovery. Straightening that out can make them much more confident about change. Programming is the process of establishing useful ways of HOW to do things with more powerful methods. Permanent personal change doesn't have much to do with conscious intellectualizing. Most programs in the mind are hidden tools that don't work in the most useful way for people until their sub-conscious is changed. To BE different people need to feel different and respond differently, not just talk differently. Therefore, it is very important to engage the sub-conscious mind in any desired change. It involves being more resourceful. A process is a distinct activity that addresses an existing situation and gradually changes it into something else. Processing basically means that people will work on an issue in a systematic manner. It is the ongoing activity of working on areas where programmed change is desired and to which many different techniques might be applied. It is not doing something to people. Semantic Processing involves understanding the underlying mental and spiritual structures that life is based upon. Then, people work on understanding their lives better, by supplying themselves with a mind that does what they want it to do. (Fleming Funch http://process.worldtrans.org/) Developing a willingness to change was found to be complex and fragile and continuously influenced by the category labelled "demanding and caring support." Health professionals and social networks can facilitate this process by paying attention to the problem, supporting reconciliation and encouraging a future orientation. Categories that constitute sub-processes and support willingness to change are: (i) actuating inner forces; (ii) dealing with conflicting feelings and thoughts; and (iii) hoping to turn the situation around. These alcoholics had reached a crossroad wherein they had to decide on the direction they wanted to proceed within their lives.The findings indicate that there were existential, social, psychological and medical incentives to convert willingness to change into action. Working on themselves, people can find resources from within to unleash great potential for change. Any change is possible. Most important personal change does not come easily, but most comes gradually over time. Most permanent change involves a willingness to change, clearing, programming, and processing along with dedicated support.

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