RAISE A LITTLE HELL

I've written several times on this blog about embracing change and shaking things up in either your personal or professional life if things just don't seem to be making you feel happy and fulfilled. So the other day when I was listening to my music as it shuffled through and the 1978 classic tune from Trooper Raise a Little Hell began blasting through my earphones. The lyrics go as follows:

If you don't like 

What you got 
Why don't you change it 
If your world is all screwed up 
Rearrange it

Raise a little Hell ...

If you don't like what you see 
Why don't you fight it 
If you know there's something wrong 
Why don't you right it

Raise a little Hell ...

In the end it comes down to your thinking 
And there's really nobody to blame 
When it feels like your ship is sinking 
And you're too tired to play the game

Nobody's going to help you 
You've just got to stand up alone 
And dig in your heels 
And see how it feels 
To raise a little Hell of your own

Raise a little Hell ...

If you don't like 
What you got 
Why don't you change it 
If your world is all screwed up 
Rearrange it

When I listened to this I realized that this could become an anthem for change. I mean, really, isn't change about changing something that isn't working -- maybe not all screwed up but not getting you the results which you want/need. 

And yes, sometimes, change is a lonely road because Nobody's going to help you, You've just got to stand up alone. Having been a change leader throughout my career, there is no question that sometimes it is a lonely road. But you can enhance that experience by persuading and cajoling others to see the benefit of considering the situation from all sides. And eventually you are joined by an increasing chorus of others who come to recognize the advantage of the proposed change.

And in the end it comes down to your thinking, And there's really nobody to blame. We often wait for events to make us change. We are frightened, unsure of the unknown. So we wait, and wait some more and hope upon hope that something will magically intervene to change our circumstance, personally or professionally. Yet when that doesn't happen, we can dig ourselves deeper into a situation which we don't like, is not fulfilling our soul, and in fact is becoming increasingly oppressive. 

So take the first step. Dig in your heels and see how it feels to raise a little Hell of your own.

You might be surprised at the freedom and joy such a move can make!

(for those of you who don't know the song click here to see the YouTube video)