Change and risk management

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.