Starting a Change

What is the first step towards making a significant change in one's life? Is it the recognition that there is something in your life that needs to be different? That you are somehow not living up to what you've idealized for yourself? That you have a weakness that needs to be addressed? OR is the first step towards change the desire to change itself? Do people get restless what who they are and allow that to spark a change in themselves?

Looking at the question I just posed, it doesn't seem quite as complicated as it was in my head. Of course the first step in changing is recognizing that something needs to be different, right? You first recognize, and then from that there is a desire to change what you've found in yourself. Couldn't it work that way? Of course. But, it could also happen that someone has a general desire to improve themselves and begins looking for ways to make that happen in all areas of their lives. It's the difference between being reactive and proactive. Seeking out things to improve for improvement's sake, or realizing that there is something in which you could be better. Neither option is better or worse than the other, but different situations call for different types of actions and mindsets.

For example, in parts of my life, I had a preemptive desire to change a certain of aspect of who I am. There really wasn't anything wrong with how I was doing things previously, but I realized that I COULD be doing it better. In other areas, I've identified a weakness and from that have made the decision to change. By doing either of these things, I expect to become a happier and more complete person.

Is change for the sake of change good? No. Change comes enough without needing to force it on yourself. However, if you can stay ahead of the curve, or improve something in order to make yourself a better person, then why not go for it? At least then you tried...