If you want to change the shape of wood the best technique is to first cut it into small strips ¼ to 1/8 of an inch. That makes the wood more pliable. You then take each individual piece and glue or epoxy them together to create a whole. Next using clamps the piece is fitted to a form and allowed to set. Depending on the type of wood the entire process might take hours to days.
I think about this process when I make changes in my life. When I was younger I expected change to hit like a lightning bolt, massive, instant and complete. And to a certain extent it was true. That is because my mind was not set in its ways. I was more open to new habits and activities.
As I have gotten older I have noticed that change is a more systematic process, one I must deliberately undertake. I break down the components of change into manageable areas. I then examine it as a whole and allow time to pass. When I have done this I can become who I want to be and achieve the objectives I set out to achieve.