Some of us embrace change, others are change agents, but most people don’t like to BE changed. It’s one thing if you have some control over the change and are choosing change, another if you are being told, gently forced or demanded to change. The article, “No One Likes to be Changed“, by David Markovitz captures the issue concisely and with good examples. He also describes research by Amy Amsten, a neuroscience professor at Yale, which demonstrated that when people don’t have a sense of control, the can experience a decrease in brain function which can lead to a decrease in productivity.

After discussing people’s resistance to being pushed into change, Markovitz concludes by saying, “The real secret to successful change, therefore, is not to change people at all. Let them figure out how to solve their own problems, and they’ll do the rest.”

I can’t help but thinking about changing habits, such as eliminating negative self-talk and increasing brain fitness; choosing change and engaging in problem-solving. I started reading Sanberg’s book, Lean In, and although she doesn’t use the phrase negative self-talk, she talks about the obstacles for women of low self-confidence and high self-doubt. I’m tempted to “lean in” and write to her about the importance of women eliminating negative self-talk as she advocates for women moving into leadership and promote my blog.

Also brings to mind The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness by Alvaro Fernandez (Purchase here with your credit card) and makes me think I’ll choose to change by using the “be your own brain coach” change. I have to give full credit to The Agile Mind by Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. which helped me to leap ahead in my understanding of the new neuroscience and brain imagery research. Reading that book not only made me choose to change, but to leap excitedly to change. Will keep you posted.