I was asked about change: how to bring about change, when efforts have not created the desired outcome. At the time I said I thought that a sincere wish to change was what was needed, and then “watch the space.”

Afterwards, I just knew that wasn’t quite it. I learned all about the theory of change and how we cycle round it till it happens (or doesn’t), and even when it does we can have a relapse. I could have talked about that but it’s still missing something.

What’s missing is summed up on a poster I have on my clinic wall called Prelude to the dance. It’s from a book called The Dance by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. She starts by saying “What if it truly doesn’t matter what you do but how you do whatever you do?” The prelude is a beautiful piece of writing. The essence of it is the heart of the Alexander Technique. I’ve been thinking about it in relation to the question I was asked about wanting to change, but not changing. Here’s the end of The Prelude to sum up what I feel is essential!