By Lisa S. Tarno

What is the catalyst for a breakthrough? Some people may say it took them years to experience a breakthrough, but personal growth guru, Tony Robbins suggests that it doesn’t take years for a breakthrough to happen. It happens in a moment…it may have taken years leading up to a moment, but breakthrough, according to him is a phenomenal mind shift. Joyce Meyers, evangelist, states that there is no drive through breakthrough. She claims you have to “Go through to get through!”

Here’s my short answer to what I think a breakthrough is: “The point of realizing that staying the same is MORE PAINFUL than the tension it would take to change!” Pain is a powerful motivator. I’ve learned recently that more people are highly motivated to relieve pain than achieve pleasure.

Think about it. What motivates people to diet? Most certainly looking in the mirror or how they feel is painful and they RESOLVE to change. What motivates people to quit smoking, or drugs or any addiction? The PAIN it causes for their lives, health and relationships motivates them to quit. What motivates people to forgive in relationships? The pain and tension of harboring unforgiveness is MORE PAINFUL and damaging than the gift of forgiving, which by the way is a gift we give ourselves not the offender.

What motivates an athlete to excel? The pain of failure and demotion far outweighs the tension and discipline it would take to change. What motivates anyone in business to achieve their goals and have unswerving belief in themselves to accomplishment? The pain of being left behind, failing, remaining stagnant causes a shift that either propels personal growth or buries them in depression. A shift happens. They can either stay where they are, stagnant, or make adjustments in their beliefs, confidence and resolve to go after their dreams.

Tony Robbins believes breakthrough happens in a moment. Joyce Meyers believes that breakthrough is a process. I believe they both have some truth in their beliefs. The actual breakthrough is a moment of time…a shift…a marked decision and resolve. However, for many, it takes a process of learning lessons along the way that are just as valuable as the moment of breakthrough. Breakthrough is powerful to the individual but the process of learning along the way becomes the very life lessons that benefit others. Both are valuable.

Whether or not you have experienced breakthrough in an area in your life, take heart, your journey is a fabulous story of the human spirit and psyche. Keep resolving to growing personally and strive for that moment in time where the changes you make not only benefit you but many others after you!