"تنها راهی که می‌توانید تغییر دائمی را حفظ کنید این است که یک روش جدید برای فکر کردن، عمل کردن و بودن ایجاد کنید"

To truly embrace lasting change, we have to transform our mindset, our actions, and essentially, who we are as individuals. It’s like saying if you want something to stick for good, you can’t just keep painting over the old wall — you need to build a brand new foundation.

This idea can be traced back to various self-help and psychological principles, emphasizing that surface-level changes don’t often hold. Simply put, if you want to make a significant shift in your life, whether it’s breaking a bad habit or developing a new skill, it’s not enough to just alter your behavior for a bit; you need to think and see the world differently. This transformation ensures that the change is ingrained in your very being, making it permanent.

Think about the early 20th century when the concept of the "growth mindset" was popularized. This was a time when people began to understand that our abilities aren't fixed but can be developed through dedication and hard work. Carol Dweck, a prominent psychologist, brought this idea to the forefront with her research. She showed that students who believed their intelligence could be developed (a growth mindset) outperformed those who thought their intelligence was fixed (a fixed mindset). This demonstrated that changing the way one thinks can lead to substantial and lasting change.

Let’s dive into a real-life example. Consider someone trying to quit smoking. If they just try to resist the urge every time it comes up, they might last a few weeks or months, but they're likely to relapse eventually. However, if they change their mindset to see themselves as a non-smoker, adopt new habits that align with this identity (like exercising or chewing gum), and immerse themselves in environments that support this new lifestyle, they’re much more likely to achieve lasting success. They didn’t just change their action of not smoking — they changed their whole perspective and way of living.

So, how can you apply this wisdom? Start by identifying the change you want to make. Let’s say you want to be healthier. Don’t just go on a diet — that’s temporary. Instead, start thinking of yourself as a healthy person. What does a healthy person do? They probably enjoy going for walks, love eating nutritious foods, and see exercise as a fun part of their day. Begin incorporating these thoughts and actions into your daily life. Over time, you won’t just be someone on a diet; you’ll become a genuinely healthy person.

Imagine this: You’ve always been a bit of a night owl, but you want to become a morning person because you’ve read about all the benefits — better productivity, more time for personal projects, and generally a better start to the day. Start by visualizing yourself as a morning person. Picture the crisp morning air, the quiet, the sense of a new day beginning. Begin to act like a morning person — go to bed a bit earlier, set a routine for the morning that excites you, like a lovely breakfast or some peaceful yoga. Over time, you’ll find that you’re not just forcing yourself to wake up early, you’ve become someone who cherishes the mornings and the fresh start they bring.

In essence, for any change to really stick, it needs to be more than skin-deep. You need to embrace a whole new way of thinking, acting, and being. It’s about creating a new version of yourself that naturally aligns with the change you want to make. So, next time you’re looking to make a shift, think about it not just as a change in behavior but a transformation of your whole self.