I speak with business owners, professionals, and individuals every day who want something to be different in their lives and want help to make that happen.

Few have the courage, determination, or willingness to change. Most believe the answer is some quick fix rather than something that needs to change in them.

Everything we have or experience in our life is a reflection of us, how we think, what we believe, and how we set our energy. If something is going to change, then we have to change.

I met with Tom a week ago. He has a successful business that entirely depends on him, which he wants to change. He wants time for his life and his family. Tom wondered what would happen if he was not always at his business. Tom worries about everything, which keeps him from developing the structure and systems for his company so that his people can do the work without him. He worries, and so he does not trust people. Tom admits that he does not have any complaints about his people. They do what he tells them to do and do it well. They are dependable, reliable, and loyal.

Because Tom worries, he controls everything and is “set in his ways.” We discussed that he could change how he relates to his business and people to have more time for his life. Tom admitted it was possible but was unsure if he was committed to change. At this point, Tom decided to keep doing things the way he always had. I expect he will reach out for help when the pain and cost of working this way become too great.

It may sound as if Tom could choose to change, but it is not easy for any of us. We are all “stuck in our ways.” That means our energy is set at a particular vibration familiar to us. Change begins with changing our energy level first. You may recall when you decided to make a change and brought your energy to a level of enthusiasm to support that change. Suddenly that dream felt possible.

If we don’t change our energy, we cannot change our reality. Tom lives at an energy level of worry and would need to be willing to change that.

There are other steps to manifesting something new, but that only matters once we change our energy from a lower vibration to a higher one, i.e., enthusiasm, amusement, and inspiration. If there is something you want to change in your life, start by raising your energy level and see what happens.