Have you ever had an epiphany about something that was different than what you thought it to be?

The famous Greek philosopher, Epictetus once wrote – “It is impossible to begin to learn that which one thinks one already knows.”

Think of it another way. What we know is our status quo and it can become what we idolize. Moreover, it can hide in plain sight. Because of our idols we have a challenging time prioritizing effectively and changing constructively. They can hold us back. Yet, when things change, we can’t stay the same, though we often want to.

Things change whenever circumstances shift. Therefore, we can’t do the same things and expect different results. When things change, we should evaluate our priorities and re-prioritize. We must be inquisitive regarding the new thing that is happening in our life. What brought advancement yesterday brings stagnation today because something new is happening.

Re-prioritizing is difficult. Why? Because change equals loss. Anything you willingly have becomes loss with change. Therefore, when change occurs, choices must be made. Epictetus also wrote – “Indeed, a man loses only that which he already has.” If we cling to the old, we can’t perceive the new, so we must grieve the loss and embrace the change. Easier said than done, right? Yes, because we have those idols that hold us back.

Here are 11 idols that can hold us back from experiencing the value of the new thing, many without us even knowing because they are so well-disguised.

1. Prestige – will kill the new thing.
2. Power and Control – are the antithesis of trust thus blocking the new thing.
3. Entitlement – brings an “I deserve attitude” therefore clouding the new thing.
4. Pride – not much to say here, except that pride can be powerfully averse to change.
5. Comfort – moving from comfort to what is not yet comfortable is always difficult.
6. Doubt and Disbelief – since we are intelligent people, skepticism should be a good thing, right?
7. Tradition – being stuck in the way it has always been is often beautifully disguised.
8. Money – a “cheap” alternative to the new thing.
9. Self-honor – wanting to be seen a certain way covers up who we really are.
10. Self-righteousness – is a gross distortion of the truth.
11. Identity (self) – is perhaps the most powerful idol because it can be misconstrued as reality, particularly by us.

Consider this – idols are always sustained and satisfied by the status quo. We can recognize idols by some of these tendencies – 1) they are self-focused; 2) if noticing jealousy, envy, and anger coming out it is likely due to idolization; and 3) idols are deceptive and they point elsewhere. As you might imagine or perhaps already know, confronting our idols won’t go well. It will be difficult. They can’t be appeased and must be obliterated.

When there is a new thing coming in our lives, we must grieve our losses and then cleave to the new thing. They may take letting go and even letting go of ourselves, because remember, our idols are what we become.

Let’s examine 3 of these in more detail. I am going to pick on TRADITION first. In my career, I have many times heard “We have always done it that way” when asking the question why? Routine is not a change agent. Routine can be good and is sometimes very necessary to help people with certain personality traits or physical conditions, but can be like sticky paper when it comes to changing direction, methods, or schedules. Tradition is something steeped into a pattern over time that has become more than habit and more like a way of life. Ways of life are difficult to shake!

ENTITLEMENT is another deceptive idol. Think of all the times you thought you deserved something. Lots of them, right? Come on, you, me, and everyone else. And it is easy to say, “I did deserve it!” Yes, it is likely that you or I did, but think of it in these terms – if we are so caught up with what we deserve, how can we help, serve or add value to others. We are self-focused and frankly, selfish.

SELF IDENTITY can surely be the elephant in the room. And whether we have a distorted self-image (most of us do until addressed) or a poor self-perception, the elephant still exists. It may show up only in our lenses, but it may also show up to others. Have you ever felt insecure and have someone tell you that you are one of the most confident people they have ever met? How did that strike you? Seems confusing and contradictory, doesn’t it? Poor self-identity contains fear. On the other hand, a self-identity that is delusional is probably as detrimental to growth. The phrases “I have arrived”, “I am at the pinnacle of my profession”, “I am the smartest dude in the room” can all put the brakes on change.

Don’t be afraid to eradicate the idol and grab onto something necessary for growth and positive change. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.