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“Slowness to change usually means fear of the new”

Philip Crosby

A little over two years ago, a few days after Christmas, in my hometown of Ponce, I realized how an unexpected change in our lives was going to become a treasure.

Just minutes after my daughter was born, I made eye contact for the first time with my daughter. I remember I took the first picture of her, marking the beginning of a new journey and a big change in my life. The change I made from working outside the home to being a stay at home dad fulfills my life.

Change is a Scary Word

I am not sure how you deal with change when it presents itself, but as humans we tend to resist change rather than accept it. The resistance causes friction and drains us from the energy we need to make the best out of whatever situation change has brought upon us.

That resistance is usually caused by fear and the only way to engage fear in a healthy way is by building courage and accepting it. I write these words so they can serve as a reminder to both of us that we need to work every day and improve how we deal with change.

The Change We Seek

While listening to Dan Heath in 2011 at a conference where he was talking about his book Switch, (I read it and highly recommend it); he mentioned how people run away from changes that are beneficial to their lives. At that moment he used a picture of a baby. He mentioned how disruptive a new baby coming into our lives can be and how it is in our nature as humans is to reproduce and have our own children.

These words resonated with me at the moment because I was a new dad. I agreed on how a baby could really change your way of seeing life. Involving yourself in the early stages of a small, living, human is a large commitment. Thankfully, love takes over our fears and helps us do our best as parents to identify the best opportunities possible for our children.

Now think about it for a moment.

Change From Our Perspective

How many times have you felt fear of change as you start a new project, shifting from one job to another, or maybe change your eating habits?

How about when unexpected change geared you towards a better opportunity even though it did not feel that way at the beginning?

So why are we so scared of change?

Feel free to contact me directly and share your experiences I might have a few more to share via email also.

If you you are in need of change or need help on making a decision that will bring change upon you feel free to take a look at how I am helping small business owners, professionals, entrepreneurs (like myself) and individuals who need help structuring their next project or business idea.

PS: I will be speaking at Jeff Pulver’s 140 Conference in New York in June. I am very excited and thankful that my proposed topic “Changing Fitness Habits One Update at a Time” got chosen.

I have not been to New York in a few years and I have many great memories of working in the city.

If you will be in New York and want to attend the conference, register today for a price of only $199 (good only until April 26th.) Afterwards the price will be $495. Jeff is in the process of curating the conference schedule and confirming the remaining speakers for the event. Click HERE to register.

My Desire to Live Near the Beach

I love visiting the beach and I had always dreamed of one day living close to one. While reading, reviewing, and internalizing the drafts of my friend’s new book (which should be published next Summer), I realized that there was no better time than now.

Thanks to the help of our friend Melvin, we were able to take a look at an apartment in his building. Not only did we like the place, but having a friend on the same floor and ocean view, definitely made us shift towards that apartment. We went to lunch, discussed the pros and cons, and made our decision to move.

The Ever Changing Scenery

With every major change like moving, there are some pros and cons. Having a yard at the previous home was a plus because we could let our dog out at anytime; now I have to walk JuanGa. But the up side to this is that 3 times a day I get some time to recharge and exercise.

A few days ago I felt like my new routine was part of the Movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray. Feeling that way, I understood I needed to change the routine. I grabbed my Bluetooth Headphones and listened to a Soul/Funk/Disco Playlist on Spotify while I walked Juanga through a different route.

As I ended my walk, I realized I become part of the scenery Mother Nature provides as part of her daily unique artwork. The footprints I leave in the sand, how Juanga re-arranges the leaves, while he moves through them, how the wind and waves move the sand are all part of the ever changing environment.

When I got back home from my walk, instead of sitting in my chair while checking emails and writing, my two year old daughter was asking me to play some music for her so she could listen to it via my headsets. I made sure to select songs and genre’s to keep her entertained and see her smile.

What turned out to look like a similar morning was a completely different one!

What are you going to make this day different from others?

If you feel everyday is similar to others, maybe we can exchange ideas. Feel free to contact me directly.