The Word - I read or am told some bit of information, that simply alters what I do.
Example - I'm told about another way to drive to work, that's easier. I simply alter my driving patterns, and get to work more quickly. No real "drama" here, just a sharing of what works in the world, and altered behavior results.
Light bulb - After reading something, I have an "aha" moment - a realization, that fundamentally alters the understanding of either myself, or of some other subject.
Example - Many forms of psychotherapy, cognitive, behavioral, make use of the fact that a client is often unrevealed to himself, in the area of difficulty. By understanding himself in a new way, a constricted area of life opens up, and new ways of operating become possible.
The same thing with spiritual realizations. A deep spiritual realization (even one that is temporary) drastically alters the perspective of the experiencer, in some small way (if not a large way) usually permanently.
The Hero - the intention to change, the intiation of a pattern of activity to make things better.
I have great familiarity with the Hero - and my New Year's resolution lists attest to this! Even the resolutions that lay crumpled on the floor come January 3!
The hero is absolutely important to drive and initiate change, but also the hero can be problematic - expecting that behavior can be altered and changed just by "deciding" so. Especially when developing an integral program for oneself, suddenly your whole day is filled up with meditation, volunteering, exercise, eating right, playing the guitar, learning a new language...
Oops, maybe that's just me!
In any case, the hero, like the rabbit, doesn't really see why there should be any limitations - just go!
The Baptism - for myself, being plunged into an environment of change, at least for the start, is the best way to insure a greater amount of succes in self-initiated change. For example, when I started Body for Life, the exercise routine, everyone in my house signed on for it. This made things infinitely easier to continue, until the new pattern (and the enjoyment of the exercise) had set in. The same thing happens in retreats. Every day is filled with people supporting the same thing, on the same page, with events, volunteering, meditations. The depth, the inculcation of the new pattern happens much more quickly with the support group filling your space and your environment, baptizing you into the focus of your practice/change. Hence, faster transformation.
The Turtle - after the initation comes the patient, persistent work, to make a new change permanent. Whether this is being with yourself in a new way, going to the gym every day, reading or praying on the daily level - the slow streching of oneself into a new way of being comes by practice, until initiation into change becomes competence, and thus a form of mastery, and a part of yourself.
Fighting the Devil - let's not mince words. FOCUSED CHANGE CAN BE VERY HARD. Hard to keep up, hard to engage in, known and unknown resistances fight the wish to change, addictions, lethargy, other personality issues can get in the way.
Perhaps what the HERO thinks should be changed, is false, or not true yet. Example: Suffering is often a catalyst to feel more deeply, appreciate life in the NOW more strongly, and this suffering (lack of change) must be gone through, to engage an attitude of acceptance to what is. Our resistances often have information that must be absorbed. So the information that is necessary for all elements of a person to change aren't available for the hero.
The devil must be engaged - sometimes fought, sometimes understood, sometimes accepted. For me, one of the best ways to deal with resistance is to make sure, that whatever new activity one is engaging in that the process is enjoyable. Like surfing, you are always riding the wave - stretching forward, at your boundaries, but not killing yourself with the change.
Okay, so what's the payoff for the above, if any?
For me, it would be the following. When engaging in some life change, play the odds to your advantage.
1. Draw up a workable plan. Find out what works. Don't put too much on your plate.
2. If possible, find a way to "dive" into the new practice. Get as much support as possible, and make sure to have a month or two where the change is engaged in every day. Go for it!
3. Be patient, and listen to yourself. Even if a change feels small, it still can feel like a "mini-death". Patience and persistence will see you through.
4. Enjoy the process, to the degree you can. Enjoy the journey.
5. If the devil is particularly strong - get help, turn to people, get advice. What can be learned? Go back to step 1, with help.
6. Accept what ultimately happens. There is - always - only this moment, and doing the best you can this moment, and this moment, and this moment. Make sure to rest, to be, in this moment, even when engaged in change. The past ultimately doesn't exist, so regret is a wasted emotion. You are learning what you need to know, and getting what you need as well.
UPDATE: Two things:
I really can't speak about engaging in change, without citing the Serenity Prayer. Yes, we've all heard it, and because of that, it can seem a bit trite, but nevertheless it is still very true, and beautiful:
God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
Also, when I am speaking of the "devil", this of course is metaphorical, in that I am speaking of resistances, various psychic blockages, etc. But the "felt weight" of various resistances and habits can be very strong, and that is what I point to with the "devil" allusion.
