Itai Ivtzan Ph.D. :
We frequently feel compelled to shake things up—to transform everything so that life feels exciting and fresh again. But transformation is not that easy. It requires an active approach. You need to change things for your life to change. Nothing changes if nothing changes.
Recent research powerfully validates this point. A study by Thompson et al. (2024) found that people who actively engaged in new activities showed a 47 percent increase in well-being scores, while those who merely wished for change saw no improvement. As the researchers noted, transformation requires action. Even more fascinating, Rodriguez and Chen (2023) used brain imaging to demonstrate that when we actively engage in new experiences, our neural pathways reshape themselves. Their research showed that participants who combined multiple approaches to transformation—like those I’ll share below—experienced three times more positive brain changes than those who remained passive.
What inspires us to grow? There are numerous sources of inspiration; here are some of my favorite ones:
Books: When I choose the right one, it opens my mind, heart, and soul. And when those are open, healthy change is inevitable.
Movement: When I swim, run, or practice yoga, my body feels alive. Endorphins explode in my brain. Any change feels possible.
Therapy: A therapy session with the right therapist is incredibly inspiring. Realizations open up within me—pieces of my life fall into place, and change naturally occurs.
Nature: When I spend time in nature, I feel a connection to myself, to what’s right for me—and change becomes a simple choice.
Conversation: Real, vulnerable, open, loving conversation with a friend, family member, or anyone. They ask the right questions, and suddenly, confusion becomes a clear realization.
Edge: I know my edge. The things that push my buttons. The things I struggle with. When I consciously invite them, I feel excited. And a snowball of change is starting to roll down the mountain.
Inner voice: I cultivate a trusting relationship with my inner voice. It took years. Now I listen—and act upon it. It’s the engine of my personal transformation.
Passion: When I’m passionate, I feel alive; everything vibrates with change potential.
Others: Working to make the world a better place and changing so that I could better serve others can be a powerful inspiration for transformation.
This is not an easy process. When you choose the steps above, things open up within you, and you start seeing yourself in new ways. Limitations, fears, avoidance, needs—they all begin showing up more clearly. And for that reason, most of us choose to shy away from transformational steps because they shake the foundation of our internal home.
And yet, at the same time, they offer an incredible gift: the gift of freedom from ourselves. What you are aware of cannot control you; it cannot dictate your choices and behaviors. You begin to navigate through life with awareness and self-choice. And that’s the beauty of transformation.
