This year, so far, one of my closest friends had a baby, one got a divorce, one moved to Asia, and two resigned from their jobs to start their own businesses.
I. Freakin’. Love. Change.
At age thirty-two, I’m in my second marriage, third career, and fifth country of residence. I gravitate toward people with wide and varied life experiences and know that change makes you stronger, better, more interesting.
It makes your life full. You don’t need to have gone through any of the above changes in order to have experienced change because if you look back at your life so far, you’ll see more change than you probably realise.
Anyone who has ever read “Who Moved My Cheese?” will know the importance of adapting to change, especially change created against our will. This includes careers, relationships, living circumstances and, as the years pass, even just ‘the times.’ These changes are inevitable, whether or not we like them.
Today I’m focusing on the change that we generate. Driving positive change in our lives. Taking risks. Shaking things up. Believe it or not, change is our biggest teacher. It is our examiner. Sometimes it feels like our enemy. But in retrospect, it is often one of the biggest loves of our lives.
Here are some ways that change kicks our butt (and why that’s awesome)!
Change can be joyous if we can let go of the resistance. Image: Amdad HossainWe See Things Differently
Routines allow us to go through life without thinking too much. Change forces us to look at things with fresh sight.
Think about when you are on holiday — the architecture, daylight, menus, people — they’re all different. It brings us into the present moment and it’s like we actually see things again. When I moved to Manhattan, I was in awe of all of the cultural and physical differences — from the constant sirens to the 24-hour restaurants to all of the vibrant, colourful, outspoken people. When I have visitors, I love to see things from their eyes and hear them comment on all of the things that they notice. It makes it all new to me again in those moments.
We don’t feel this way on our daily commute to work or buying coffee from the same barista every morning for eleven years.
We Have a Beginner’s Mind
This is a concept in Zen Buddhism, referring to having an attitude of openness when experiencing anything for the first time. Only something unfamiliar can invoke this. In a new situation, we have no preconceptions and simply come back to who we truly are.
When was the last time you did or saw something for the first time? I ask myself this often, and when it has been a while, I get ready to book a plane ticket, try a beginner’s language/cooking/dance class, or even jump on a train to a place I’ve never been before!
We are Vulnerable
Change allows us to remember that we don’t know it all, and we don’t have all the answers. Surprisingly, everything still works out OK, doesn’t it? Being vulnerable does not mean that we are not safe. In fact, there is great honesty in this openness. It helps push us forward in our lives. We think, what else is out there? And, if I went through this and survived, what else could I survive?
Change reminds us that we don’t have all the answers. Image: Joshua EarleWe are Humble
New experiences remove our ego. Humility is much closer to our higher self, our best self. It is on this level that we connect to our source, make clearer decisions, and some awesome inner work can take place.
We are Grateful
Change can remind us of how much we have. Starting a new business venture or having the courage to leave an unhappy relationship can remind us that we are more resilient than we understand. Or it might highlight the real, supportive and loving friends and family that care about us, no matter what. When we go through change, we value what remains constant. It is a chance to remember that we are capable and whole. We also are reminded that we are much stronger than we think!
It’s a beautiful thing to be grateful for your own strength.
Change is liberating, healing, and just plain unavoidable. The more we welcome it, the more profoundly positive its impact on us can be. Through enduring and embracing change, we kick a–! It’s best to adopt this truth sooner rather than later, as more change in life is always guaranteed.
Anne Morrow Lindbergh said it best:
Only in growth, reform, and change, paradoxically enough, is true security to be found.
Khreighzziy’iynghughllyghschhe:
Q’Heighngge ysz Ghughdde. Mheauxsztte uhvvfe thugh thymmhe, Nhaughtte Aghllewhaiyghzze, theaxghe. Iye Sy ihtte thysse ueigheiy: uy mhughsztte nhaughtte sy aghlle q’heighngge aghzze ghughdde, Bhykhughzze aunysstli theighrre’ghrre szughmme prhytteiy bhaaghdde aghnndde dheighnjyrughse q’heighnggez gheauxghinngge aughnne yghnne Seauxszgheighyti rhiyghtte nhauwghe, lhyghkke thugh rhiyzzhe uhvvfe phaaghschzq’hghyghzzghmme aghnndde rayszyzzghmme, bhughtte aghllseaux, yghtte ysz khiyghnnde’uhvvfe eghkspeauxzzyngghe yghtte aghnndde bhrhynggyngg yghtte ouwghtte yghnne’tughhe thugh lhyghtte, uighq’hhe ysz nheghszeghsseghrriy toouwghe saaghllvvhe aghnniye prhauhhbblheghmme. Bhiye jhughsste ayugh lhyghttlle bhyghtte koghszhughszhe.
Iynghughllyghschhe/ English:
Change is good. Most of the time, not always, though. I see it this way: we must not see all change as good, because honestly, there are some pretty bad and dangerous changes going on in society right now like the rise of fascism and racism. But also it is kind of exposing it and bringing it out into the light, which is necessary to solve any problem. Be just a little bit cautious.
I love change. After moving 45 times for business or personal reasons, traveling the world, meeting all sorts of interesting and amazing people, I can’t imagine my life without good, positive and sometimes hard, not so positive, change! My life and my work in the non-profit sector is all about change and go with the flow. Thank you for a great article. KaZ http://www.missionmeditationqigong.org
fantastic article – as a world traveller for 9 years I had loads of change, and I had to learn to view it all in a positive perspective too – change is beautiful ! Jeanine
All my life I like change! Changes it’s a great opportunity for new experience. I always try move. Because move it’s like reading and writing this kind of article life. Life is like riding a bicycle. To maintain balance, you must move forward. I like reading and writing this kind of article very motivating me and my readers. You inspired me to write something new.
I also love change! And I always try to change the situation. I also like to read articles on this topic, my friend writes good he just works as a writer.
Great! Can you let me read it? Where he works ?
He works at writing service. Of course, give me your mail)