Why is change so hard? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Why, when our minds can be so clear on the direction we want to go and the actions we want to take. We can be clear that we want change, and what that change is, yet somehow we fall back into old patterns. Habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not talking about changing others, or changing the world. Though often I sure wish I had that power. No, I\u2019m talking about changing myself. Changing the way I do things.  The changes I want to make in how I show up so that things feel better. Flow more smoothly. Yield more satisfying results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are someone who thinks about self-improvement too, then this post is for you<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In my work as a professional learning facilitator, I work with a lot of educators who want to make changes in their teaching practice and school. Some want to give students more voice and choice. Others want to create learning that is more engaging for students. And most want to identify and disrupt inequitable systems and practices – in their own classroom and in their school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And we all know that making these changes is hard.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In many cases, there are a lot of forces keeping the status quo in place. Things like school schedules, grading and reporting practices, and even public sentiment. Or a global pandemic. Often, these \u201csystemic forces\u201d work against the changes that we are trying to make. These constraints take significant focus and sustained effort to shift and this discussion of habit hacking is less relevant here. And even so, many of these educators persist to make headway and improve the quality of learning in their classroom and school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet in other cases, even with some of these constraints removed, we have a hard time making a change. We see and understand the change we want to make, we are clear on why it\u2019s worth it, and there don\u2019t seem to be any significant barriers. We have control! Yet we make only small, inconsistent, unsustainable progress toward these goals. And it\u2019s not for a lack of effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How habits might be key to change<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I think I might have stumbled onto some information that might help us stick with the change process. One key might be to make small, intentional shifts in our daily habits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his book Atomic Habits<\/em>, author James Clear<\/a> discusses how micro-shifts in our daily habits can change our trajectory significantly over time. And he also noted that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.<\/p>— James Clear (@JamesClear) October 4, 2018<\/a><\/blockquote>