Why do people find it easier to let go of things in their lives such as clothing and household goods but unable to change themselves as quickly and as easily?
It is easier to get rid of the external influences due to the fact they're not physically and emotionally attached therefore not causing much pain, clothing and household goods fall into that category.
The process of change can be a painful experience and all the memories put together with all the emotional ties and beliefs give us the meaning in our lives.
For some people this meaning is all they have known, this meaning has given them their purpose, their destiny up until now for their own exploration of the world. To expect them to change at the pace another does is a folly, including changing self.
It is taking away purpose and meaning in their life, and stripping that away without the gradual change (and change is a gradual process - to expect behaviours etc... to vanish overnight to be replaced by other behaviours that are more favourable is putting a gun to the head and pulling the trigger) is leaving behind an empty shell with no real and new experiences being learnt to replace that empty space.
Even a newborn baby is not an empty space. Research shows that as the baby grows in the womb the brain starts adapting to the mothers environment, emotions, beliefs etc... this is neurological patterning in effect. Understaning the science that our brains are plastic and therefore able to change and also understanding that only gradual change is lasting change, can make the biggest differences. Those looking for a quick fix are living in a world of disillusion. They want a habit to vanish overnight.
If a person starts taking action given the appropriate coaching where the very foundations of their beliefs are shaken and understanding the impact that these beliefs has had on their life and by creating new beliefs then slowly but surely change can occur. And persistence is the key. Trying over and over again is not in fact trying: it is having failure and resistance meeting you over and over again as obstacles and challenges meet you face to face. Giving up is walking away, never to do the same thing ever again without seeing what the results of your efforts ~ ie change in progress.
Given that past behavious have served us the way they were meant too and then being exposed to the fact they are no longer wanted is a shock and a jolt to the system. Comapassion is called for in a situation like this. Liken it to an employee who has been loyal and faithful over several years being told to leave, the behaviour of that employee will be the same, they may physically leave but emotionally and mentally they are still tied to that place, the employers, their job etc... they had felt fulfilled, happy and elated with the stability this has provided them in their life. Suddenly their very ground shakes under them leaving them unstable and directionless. Had the employee been given the time to move on to another job or position (also known as the transition stage) wth the process being gradual then they would have their footing to move forwad in life.
To have your world ripped apart and having to build from scratch (same with behaviours) then appropriate role model/s are required day in and day out, just like a parent is their for their child, from conception to the time when they start making big decisions themselves. if that role model is not available 24/7 then change will occur at the pace where the role model/s are exposed to them. Without those role models expect more than chaos to reign. So why don't some people change? Lots of factors to take into account, given the appropriate training and exposure anyone can change.
