What is Transformation?

As I evolved and transformed, it was not all an external, physical change, rather an inner change that manifested itself with a positive outcome.

When asked the question, my first instinct was to look it up. The Cambridge English Dictionary defines transformation as ,“a complete change in the appearance or character of something or someone, especially so that that thing or person is improved”.  In short, it is change for the better.

My life in transformation

And I then started thinking about how I have transformed over the years; and surprisingly I realized that I have had several transformations throughout my life. In my career, I was an assistant (utusan) in our struggling family business, then moved on to being a salesman for an oil company, to starting and running a logistics company; and then went on work for a Multi-national Direct Selling Company. Somewhere along the way, I also tried to be a direct seller myself, became a consultant; and then became partner in a business where I have transformed into a Coach. Even in my personal life, I see so many transformations- from being a child, to being a teenager, becoming a Dad, to learning to be a father-in-law, and very soon be a grandfather!

Having gone through so many transformations in my role and my relationships, I find myself asking how it all happened, and how I managed to course through it all. I was not born knowing how to do and be all of those versions of me, yet here I am contented that my transformed life and transformed self turned out quite well.  It had my share of bumps & bruises along the way and I would like to think that they made my transformation even more meaningful. As I evolved and transformed, it was not all an external, physical change, rather an inner change that manifested itself with a positive outcome. And that is what I would consider to be most impactful — when the transformation is triggered by a positive change that begins within us.

What is Transformation?

It reminds me of the Bible passage, “When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me”. Growing up is not only a physical change of becoming taller and bigger. It means inner change that makes us think, behave and decide like a grown, mature individual. When I became a father, I had to learn to expand my focus from just myself to including my children; and at times putting their interests ahead of mine. When I became a Coach I had to learn to LISTEN without judgement or bias; hear people’s feelings and be a guide for someone’s self-realizations.

What is Transformation?

It is the result or manifestation of changes that we do within ourselves. For us to transform our lives we need to make positive decisions and changes in the way we do things. Most importantly, we need to be willing to transform and be transformed

I think Mark Twain captures embracing transformation so inspiringly in these words – “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones that you did do”. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. EXPLORE. DREAM. DISCOVER.”

Enjoy the journey of transformation!