For almost a decade I’ve been a student of why and how people change. It is said in recovery culture that people change when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of changing. Aside from being really insightful, that’s more than a little depressing. Of course, pain can be a great motivator of change, like when you pull your hand away from a hot stove. But thankfully, pain isn’t the only reason people change. In fact, many times change can be…well…fun. Think about some of the choices you’ve made that brought about change: going to college or getting married or pursuing an internship or traveling overseas or accepting a job offer. It’s not likely that you made these or similar decisions because you were in pain. At least I hope not. I have friends who went to grad school not because the pain of having an undergraduate degree was so great, but because the pleasure of having a graduate degree was so much greater. Likewise, how would you react if you heard someone say, “I got married because the pain of being alone became too great”? How romantic. Or if someone went after his dream job and said in the interview, “I’d like to work here because the pain of working with the bozos in Department C is just too great.” Um…next. What I love about life is that people change not only because of pain but very often because of pleasure. They change not only because their current life hurts but als

Praise for Spark “I expected to come away from reading Spark impressed with Jason Jaggard’s thoughts and encouraged by his stories. But I was also inspired to start taking my own risks to make a difference in small ways and big. This book is a valuable tool for anyone looking to move from contemplating life to fully living it.” — Mike Gogis, Willow Creek Association chief financial officer “Jason’s flair for writing makes Spark as enjoyable to read as it is insightful. His drumbeat is that small risks often lead to dramatic transformations. Jason offers encouragement to everyone who seeks to make their lives and the world around them better, one risk at a time.” — Andrew K. Benton, president of Pepperdine University “Game changer! It’s a term that is used to describe the monumental changes that occur in an array of spheres—from politics to the music industry to sports and everything in between. Spark is a game changer for life and those who desire to live life loud.” — Dr. Marcus “Goodie” Goodloe, catalyst at Mosaic, a Los Angeles faith community “ Spark will ignite you. Jason Jaggard invites everyone into movement by creating beautiful spaces (Spark Groups) where each person embraces the genesis of change. Spark reveals an author with a contagious passion for others and the willingness to walk by your side as you take meaningful risks. Anyone will benefit from reading this book, a