“Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it. And then he feels that perhaps there isn’t.
– Excerpt from A.A. Milne “Winnie the Pooh.” Penguin, 1954


Everyone one of us has a little bit of Edward Bear or Pooh in us. We are guilty of this type of thinking. I have been Edward Bear many times in my life. I’ve decided to dissect Edward Bear's thoughts to see if anything can be gleaned from them.

1. (Here is Edward Bear coming downstairs now bump, bump, bump) Edward Bear only thinks about his problems when he is in the midst of them. Not the greatest time to think about how to approach change. Maybe if he thought about his problem during a quiet time he may find other answers.

2. (behind Christopher Robin) Edward Bear is following someone else. Not the best place to implement change. When we are following someone we can become too involved in keep pace with that person instead of working on setting our own life agenda.

3. (it is as far as he know, the only way to come downstairs) He hasn’t increased his knowledge base. Effective change happens when we are motivated to change but also we need to increase what we know about the subject.

4. (But sometimes he feels that there really is another way) To work on a life problem, it needs focus and intensity, not a sometimes kind of approach.

5. (if he could only stop bumping for a moment and think of it) He doesn’t take the time to consider other options, and before he knows it, he is in the middle of bumping again.

6. (And then he feels that perhaps there isn’t) He dismisses the thought of change to quickly.