Change is often a struggle for people.

Maybe it is for you, too.

Often, our thinking about change is framed by a range of unconscious negative beliefs.

Here are some of the common ones:

• I fear feeling “overwhelmed” by the whole process of change.
• I don’t want to be seen as “damaged” if I open up and admit wanting to change.
• I’m not going to be strong enough to change.
• This behavior is such a part of me that I can’t imagine being any other way.
• I don’t have the skills needed to change.
• Deep down, I just don’t think it’s possible for me to really change.
• What if I feel worse after making the change?

For many of us, it’s these types of unconscious – or even conscious – beliefs that hold us back from making the changes we want.

Taking the time to think through how you react to the idea of change can be very rewarding … and an empowering activity.

When change feels too difficult or overwhelming …

Have you ever felt that change will be too difficult?

Perhaps the idea of change provokes a sensation of overwhelm?

If we hold this type of belief, the very first obstacle we encounter when making the change will end up generating a painful emotion. That unpleasant experience will tend to drive us back to our existing patterns of behaviour.

But there are ways to shift our thinking.

Let’s take a little sidestep away from psychology for a moment and jump into the world of finance … just for argument sake.

When the detail really adds up …

Think about the interesting concept of compound interest.

Let’s say you have $1000 to invest. You get a good rate at 10%. That means, by the end of the first year, your investment has grown to $1100. You’ve generated $100 of interest.
Not bad!

… and it gets better.

At the end of the second year, our $1100 grows again by 10%, giving us $1210.

In fact, this is the magic of compound interest.

In this case, you get a big annual interest rate that brings a satisfying return.

Now, let us look at it another way.

Imagine you start out with the same initial investment of $1000. But this time, you only get a 2% interest rate. But, in this special investment offer, your interest is compounded annualy. It is, in fact, compounded on a daily basis.

How much do you think your $1000 will be worth at the end of the first year?

I think you’ll be quite surprised.

Let’s remember, in this case, you’re getting 2% interest compounded daily (that’s 365 times over the year).

Well, the excellent news is that your $1000 would be worth a cool $1.37 million after just one year.
Yes, that’s right, $1,370,000!

For those of you mathematically included, that’s: 1000 x 1.02^365 = 1,377,408

When a little slice of change a day is exactly what the doctor ordered

OK, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see a compound interest offer like that.

Let me know if you do!

But the real point here is this.

We don’t need to hit home runs or lift mountains to make massive change in our lives.

Disciplined attentional focus on small changes on a daily basis can add up to potentially remarkable changes in a relatively short period of time.

That’s what we see in our compound interest case above.

Why not in your life, too?

Ask yourself this, right now.

What’s my 2% today?