Embrace Your Natural State of Transformation and Change - and Live with True Abundance

by Neville D Christie, co-founder of Steep Renaissance

Transformation our natural state

As a life-long innovator, entrepreneur, psychotherapist, and urban shaman, I see curiosity, transformation and change as natural states for all humans. ?They are a trio of responses we're inherently designed to embrace - so we survive and thrive.?? In fact, adaptation to change was what Darwin meant by "survival of the fittest."

Those who don’t keep transforming, pay a high price.? They get eaten while still alive.? Tasty for some.? Not so nice for others.

Not quite the question

For me, “Why do people resist change?” is now not quite the pointy-end question. ?Or the real issue. Look how many changes we all made, world-wide, during the Covid-19 pandemic.? Reframe the question, and we get different answers.

What we, our friends, colleagues, and our teams resist isn’t change itself.? ?But the potential threat we perceive that change might bring.

When we shift this perception, resistance melts away - making room for growth, change, reinvention, collaborative innovation, and transformation.? Why, we even lay down the pathways to a new STEEP Renaissance for our next decade.

Rethinking Resistance to Change

The notion of resistance to change is deeply connected to how we perceive the world.

Those of us with a static, or fixed, mindset see life through a lens of preservation.?

When we view life and work through this deep desire to hold tight to what’s familiar, even if it means missing out on new possibilities... then we tell any number of lies... we believe any misinformation, and we go to the greatest lengths and perversions to “Make Us Great Again!” [MUGA]. Sounds a bit like Mugs-all!

This is like clinging to the ledge of a cliff for dear life, afraid to let go, even when the view from the top is spectacular. Staying on that ledge might feel safe, and the only response that’s sound.? But it also keeps us from flying, and soaring to new heights.

Contrary-wise, hallelujah!? ?Grasp hold of the Vision Splendid, and we crawl on our hands and knees to reach the summit!

Growth mindset

This is where the concept of a growth mindset enters. ?Dr Carol Dweck, a pioneer in the psychology of motivation, explains, a growth mindset opens us up to new experiences, to new adventures, and to exploring unknown unknowns!

Our growth mindset is our belief that our abilities, skills, and intelligence can be super-developed with time, effort, and collaborating within our tribe.? ?

When we embrace this mindset, change isn’t a threat; it’s a wide-open doorway to new potential.

“Let go of the cliff ledge. ?Real safety is in the freefall.” - a #Nevilleism 1.

With our growth mindset, challenges become stepping stones. Setbacks transform into lessons. Problems become opportunities. Uncertainties become the frontiers for new adventures, full of zing and zest.?

As we override our fight, flight, freeze syndrome... And we consciously shift our perception from fear to possibility... We align with our natural, inborn, innate capacity to grow and evolve.? And we make reinvention and transformation an intrinsic and extrinsic part of our every day.

“Any day spent without learning something new, is a day wasted.”? - #Nevilleism 2.

Understanding the Negativity Bias: Why We Fear Change

In addition to our natural capacity for transformation, our evolutionary biology has also programmed us with a negativity bias. Our brains are wired to notice and remember negative experiences more readily than positive ones.? This is a survival mechanism that kept our ancestors vigilant in hostile environments.

Some studies suggest that even today up to 70% of our thoughts tend to focus on potential threats, a tendency that still shapes our responses day in, day out. That is, before we consciously override them.

Change seems risky

This negativity bias makes change seem risky. Our brain initially interprets uncertainty as a potential threat. In turn, this triggers physical, emotional and psychological 'panic' and resistance.

This initial “resistance” is not mere stubbornness; it’s the brain’s way of protecting us.

Worse-case scenarios

When faced with change, our survival instincts amplify worst-case scenarios over reality.? If we allow this worse-case to remain and sustain, we make it hard to see the positive potential of new experiences. Read a few of those articles about how AI, global warming and Donald Trump will bring about the end of civilisation and the human race, to see this point written large.

In short, the negativity bias reinforces a fixed mindset, keeping us in our comfort zones and resisting the unfamiliar.

?“When you can’t see the whole path, take the next step anyway. Clarity is found in movement.” - #Nevilleism 3.

Managing the Negativity Bias to Embrace Change

Question:? So, how do we overcome this bias and tap into our natural capacity for growth?

Answer:? By intentionally practicing habits that cultivate a growth-oriented perspective. ?Like these:

1. Develop a Growth Mindset

Cultivating a growth mindset helps you see change as a path to progress. Here’s how to begin:

• Challenge limiting beliefs: Identify beliefs that limit you, your family, your business.? Question them.? Replace them with affirmations that support growth. For instance, swap “I’m not good at this” for “I’m learning and improving every day.”
• Seek continuous learning: Approach life with a learner’s mindset. Make it a habit to learn something new every day.? It can be a skill, perspective, or insight from a mistake. This keeps your mind open and flexible
• See setbacks as learning opportunities: Every challenge is a chance to grow. Reframe setbacks as essential steps on your journey.
• Develop a change gizmo.? Use a simple device like rubbing your third eye, tapping your chestbone, or turning a switch in your temple, to remind you to consciously override your fear response and replace it with a higher intention.

“Every stumble is a step, in disguise. Think of how it propels you forward, literally.” – #Nevilleism 4.

2. Leverage the First Five Minutes of Your Day for Gratitude

The first five minutes after we wake, our brains are in a creative, receptive alpha wave state. Use this brief open window to set a positive tone for your day:

• Begin with gratitude: Sit on the edge of your bed, and reflect on three things you’re thankful for. This primes your brain to focus on the positive and to embrace growth.
• Visualize success: Take a minute to visualize a productive, fulfilling day. Imagine yourself handling challenges gracefully and learning through each experience.

3. Build Daily Habits of Mindfulness and Gratitude

Integrating mindfulness and gratitude into your daily routine.? This fosters resilience and adaptability:

• Practice mindfulness throughout the day: Take small pauses to focus on your breath and ground yourself. This helps you notice when the negativity bias is influencing your thoughts.
• Maintain a gratitude journal: Each evening, write down three things you’re grateful for. Over time, this rewires your brain to recognize positive experiences. And allow you to dwell in a permeable bubble of wonder, awe and positivity.
• Express gratitude to others: Consciously look for and acknowledge the positive attributes and actions of those around you. This strengthens your relationships and helps create a growth-oriented environment.
• Think of your growth mindset as a compass. With a growth mindset, the needle points to the true north of opportunity rather than fear, and guides you toward personal and professional transformation and fulfillment.

4. Embrace Curiosity and Self-Reflection

• Self-reflection and journaling: Track your thoughts, goals, and progress to deepen self-awareness and recognize growth over time.
• Start with big, fat, hairy, audacioous ends: Picture yourself embracing new challenges and growing. Visualising Big Ends reduce fear and builds a sense of possibility. ?Dr Xenon Gruba, a holistic health expert I attended for many years, used to say, “See yourself as living to 100 in total wellness and perfect health.”? I added three more years for good measure.? And a highly desired exit!? So far, big wonderful! And 20 years to go...
• Surround yourself with your supportive tribe: Connect with friends, mentors, or communities that foster mutual positivity and growth.? Become the growth-oriented Chief of your tribe.
• Picture change as a river. Resisting change is like trying to swim against the current, exhausting yourself to stay in place. Embracing change allows you to flow with the river, conserving energy and opening to where it may lead.

Marcus Aurelius, the last of only five ‘good’ Roman Emperors, often quoted Heraclitus, his favourite poet: ?“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man.”

Transformation is Our Natural State

As humans, we are programmed to evolve. Embracing change is not about erasing fear but about learning to manage it, to see change as a path to becoming the best version of ourselves.

Transformation is our birthright.? Change,? reinvention, collaborative innovation, transformation are journeys that continually reshapes who we are, both personally and professionally.

This brings to mind a powerful stanza by the poet Guillaume Apollinaire:

"Come to the edge," he said.

"We can't, we're afraid!" they responded.

"Come to the edge," he said.

"We can't, we will fall!" they responded.

"Come to the edge," he said.

And so they came.

And he pushed them.

And they flew.

“True growth begins at the edge of your comfort zone.? Un-fear the edge.? ?It’s where the view is best.” - #Nevilleism 5.

The wondrous natural journey of ongoing transformation begins with a single shift in our perspective. Embrace curiosity, practice gratitude, and cultivate resilience.

Let change be your guide in the journey to becoming who you’re truly meant to be.

And join the urban shamans... once a week.

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What are urban shamans?

Urban shamans are a diverse tribe of mavericks, spread across the world.? We started by experiencing and adopting the amazing practices of the nomadic shamans of deep diving into our psyches, to retrieve them, heal them, and to bring them to wholeness and wellness.??

We then borrowed from multiple practices and rituals of religions and spiritual practices with proven efficacy...? ?And sprinkled these with loads of brain science, psychological know-how, and the insight of 150 years of psyche-therapy...

The end goal is we all...

• Evolve into the best versions of ourselves
• Form and have our being within the best possible tribes and relationships
• Share resources and innovate collaboratively to create our best possible businesses
• Work within our tribes to envision and make best possible futures happen
• Play a key role in bringing about the social, technological, ecological, economic, political revolution – the STEEP Renaissance.

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#Transformation and growth? #Embracing change? #Growth mindset?

#Personal development?? #Mindfulness and gratitude #Nevilleisms