打破常軌—BREAKING OUT OF A RUT
在工作中很容易陷入常軌－－在同樣的地點，做同樣的事，承擔同樣的責任。這麼做很舒服，因為例行公事是如此熟悉。而改變是困難的，因為那牽涉到冒險進入不知道和不確定的情況。但安居在固定的情況中是危險的，就如幽默作家威爾．羅傑所說：「即使你在正確的軌道上，若你只是坐在那裡，你會被人壓過去！」
當你發現自己陷在這麼一個固定的情況中，有什麼事能讓你移動？對大多數人而言，有三個普遍的因素會帶來改變，不論他們喜不喜歡：
痛苦 – 各種型式的痛苦都會激發我們去尋求改變。通常人們不會「看到火光」而移動，而是「覺得燙」才移動。
壓力 – 當醫生宣佈這可怕的消息：「減重50磅，否則你會死」，或老闆說：「表現好一點，要不然就炒你魷魚。」我們就會感到有壓力。但以壓力作為改變的動力通常不能持久。當壓力沒了－－問題解決了或危機處理了－－你的動力也就停止了，世界和你都可以恢復平常的生活。
遠見 – 當你可以看到一個更大的圖畫，或當你被一個挑戰性的願景或目標所激勵，你就有遠見。當你了解自己正在浪費自己的潛能，和自己所遇見的機會，你就有遠見。
但我們不必等到突然被痛苦，壓力或遠見所激勵，就如聖經提醒我們：「看風的，必不撒種；望雲的，必不收割」（傳道書11章4節）。
這裡有四個打破常軌的步驟：
為你自己的生命負責：拒絕成為一個找藉口的人（合理化自己的失敗），或控告者（把自己的失敗怪罪別人）。要成為一個有選擇能力的人，選擇突破自己所陷入的固定情況。
相信自己能夠：不要說「我沒辦法」，要開始說「我可以」。當你開始這麼說，你會驚訝地發現自己真的可以。
澄清自己真正想要的東西：清楚地寫下你想要如何改變－－或看到哪些事被改變。
不要等到理想的情況：不要說：「我要等到有一天，所有事情都安頓好再去做。」現在就去做！「有一天」的真正意思是「沒有一天」。
思想 / 討論題目
- 想想你的生命。你是否陷入常軌，停留在同樣的地方，用同樣的方式做事情，承擔同樣的責任，在可預見的將來不太可能改變？若是，你是否滿足於常軌？為什麼？
- 當你面對改變，你一向如何回應？改變是否讓你害怕，使你想抗拒？或者你歡迎改變，甚至擁抱改變？請解釋。
- 你最近經歷的重大改變是什麼？你是否主動改變？或者有其他因素（如痛苦或壓力）激發你改變？
- 你覺得本文作者所推荐打破常軌的四個步驟是否有效？哪一個步驟對你（或需要改變的親友）最適用？
註：若你有聖經且想要看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
歷代志上12章32節；以賽亞書41章10節；耶利米書29章11節；提摩太後書1章7節；希伯來書12章26-29節
BREAKING OUT OF A RUT
By: Rick Warren
It is easy to get stuck in a rut at work – to get stuck in the same place, doing the same thing, handling the same responsibilities. It can become comfortable because the routine is so familiar. And change can be difficult, because it involves venturing into the unknown and the uncertain. But settling into a rut is dangerous. As humorist Will Rogers used to say, “Even if you”re on the right track, you”ll get run over if you just sit there!”
When you find yourself stuck in such a rut, what does it take to get you moving? For the majority of people, there are three common motivators for bringing about change, whether they like it or not:
PAIN – Pain in any of its many forms can motivate us to seek change. Often it is not seeing the light that gets us moving, but feeling the heat.
PRESSURE – We feel pressure when the doctor gives us the dire news, “Lose 50 pounds or die,” or the boss says, “Improve on your performance or be fired.” The problem with pressure as a motivator is that it does not last. When the pressure subsides – the imposing problem is fixed, or the overwhelming crisis is somehow solved – your motivation comes to an end. All seems right with the world and you can resume life as usual.
PERSPECTIVE – Perspective comes when you become able to see the big picture, or when you are deeply inspired by a challenging vision or purpose. Perspective takes hold when you realize that you are wasting your potential, squandering promising opportunities that have come your way.
But we do not have to wait until we suddenly receive motivation from pain, pressure or perspective. As the Bible reminds us, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you”ll never get anything done” (Ecclesiastes 11:4).
Here are four steps for breaking out of a rut:
Assume responsibility for your own life: Refuse to be an Excuser (rationalizing your failures) or an Accuser (blaming others for your failures). Instead, be a Chooser and choose to break out of the rut you find yourself in.
Believe you can: Stop saying I can”t, and start saying I can. When you start saying that, you may be surprised to discover that you truly can.
Clarify what you really want: Write down specifically how you would like to change – or to see changed .
Do not wait for ideal circumstances: Stop saying, “I will do it one of these days, when things settle down.” Do it now! “One of these days” is really NONE of these days.Adapted from a column by Dr. Rick Warren, the author of numerous books, including the highly acclaimed, The Purpose-Drive Life, which has been translated into many languages and sold throughout the world. It affirms the importance of having a carefully considered, clearly expressed purpose to guide everyday life. He also has written a number of other books, including The Purpose of Christmas.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- Think about your life for a moment. Are you stuck in a rut, staying in the same place, doing things the same way, handling the same responsibilities, will little or no likelihood of change in the foreseeable future? If so, are you content with staying in your rut? Why or why not?
- When you encounter change, what is your typical reaction – does it frighten you, causing you to resist it, or do you welcome change, even embrace it? Explain your answer.
- What was the most recent major change you experienced – did you initiate it, or was it prompted by other factors, such as pain or pressure?
- How helpful do you find the four steps that Rick Warren suggests for breaking out of a rut? Which, if any, seems most applicable for you – or for someone close to you that needs to make a significant change?
NOTE: If you have a Bible, consider these other passages that deal with this topic:
1 Chronicles 12:32; Isaiah 41:10; Jeremiah 29:11; 2 Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 12:26-29
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