Changing Minds

I've sometimes suffered under the illusion that I can change someone's mind. I can't. But I can change my own mind, or way of thinking. When we deflect attention from our own responsibility to change our own mind, we often get busy trying to change another person's mind. One of the reasons I suppose we spend our time trying to change other people's minds, is that we're not so sure what we really want. I know, that sounds a bit contradictory, but actually the paradox is true. Our focus on changing others and their thoughts is rooted in our lack of clarity and conviction about our own thoughts. When we are clear and secure in our thinking, what other people think is less important to us.

We have too much trouble staying clear about what's working for us in the moment to spend too much time trying to change another person's mind about some future event. Powerful change can occur at the individual level of consciousness, even in organizations. It's freeing for some people in organizations to know that they don't have to change who they are in order to be certain that leaders feel O.K.  Change begins with clear thoughts, and the feelings associated with those thoughts. When a person takes responsibility for her thoughts and feelings, she can then fully appreciate the results that she can achieve based on those thoughts.

Thoughts are seeds in a garden of possibilities. Plant your seeds in your own garden, and if you choose, share your harvest with others.