Even as I work to understand the global
struggles of peace the process always flows back to the inner
struggles that I have in my own mind. Basically it is the axiom of
“there is no world peace when a single person is without inner
peace”. To further that phrase we have the ripple or buttterfly
effect to consider as well. With that comes the phrase “easier said
than done”. That last phrase is where change and risk management
come in to play. Whether we are talking about stopping war,
corruption, slave trading, environmental destruction, breaking a
habit such as drinking, smoking or starting a new habit such as
cycling, reading or walking, there will be a need to manage that
change and to understand the risks.
There are a great many sources that
point out the stages of decision making and how to approach the
process of decision making. As you go through these steps there will
come a point when mental work must change to physical work. This is
where the “rubber hits the road”, the implementation part. All
the data has been compiled as to the risks, rewards, strengths,
weakness, pitfalls and scenarios of what to do when an unknown
element of impact takes place. These are not easy areas to venture
into if done correctly because if it is done correctly you should be
into new territory. That is the essence of change.
Before many of us take that initial
step, there is one element that stops many of us and that is the
perception of failure. Many of us will not change because of the
feeling that doing so will be viewed as failure. There is so much
invested into the current mindset or methods that changing would be
an acknowledgment of wasted resources, being wrong and a failure.
These feelings are of such impact that it keeps countries at war, it
keeps individuals on addictions and it keeps the world from being
peacful. The fear of being wrong, being a failure and/or being
wasteful will, has and is a major hurdle of personal and global
peace. How do we change that?
Many phrases are used that many do not
want used in reference to themselves such as “eating humble pie,
eating crow, swallowing pride, eat your words etc... These phrases
are the examples of what stops people from changing towards a more
peaceful reality. In all truthfullness a peaceful person would be
happy that they have found out they could be more peaceful. However
we often find ourselves being angered or hurt that we are not as
peaceful as we think we are. Instead of embarking on the process of
changing we entrench ourselves, stand our ground and become
indignant. This is where the mindset of “why am I always the one
that has to bend over backwards for everyone else”, why must I
always get walked on, why must I always have to be the one to back
down or give in”. Attached to these phrases is the element of
failure, losing and/or being weak.
As these phrases are made, each
acknowlege the need for some type of change. At this point the risk
management assessments are done. How much are you able to change, how
much are you willing to change, what changes if any are you going to
offer to make? These questions of change will guide you in the risks
you know are present. Then of course there are the unknown risks
which, by nature are unexpected such as the bird that just flew over
and shit on you.
With all of this, the peaceful course
of action would be to understand every step as a learning experience.
Even though the emotions of failure are indeed unpleasant, sorrow is
part of life. Those moments are there to inform us of the fragility
of life and peace.
Due to the fragile nature of life,
people tend to stick to what is known. This course of action delays
the changes which we all know must take place. In turn, we get
everyone talking about how to be change, giving advice on how to
change, writing and reading self-help articles. Reality shows us that
we have the information and it also shows us we stumble at the gate
of action.
Having the courage to implement the
change is step one. Following along with steps two, three, four,
five, etc.... will take just as much courage. The diference is that
you become use to the unknown and then the enitre process begins
again as you see a new path that needs to be explored.
