What Do You Think About Change?

We hunger for consistency and certainty. The sense that once I get past this one thing, or figure out that one issue, just get this sorted once and for all, everything will be okay.

Sometimes it works.

For awhile.

But somehow, thinking you have it sorted once and for all, makes the inevitable change, the need to re-examine what you’re doing, even more disappointing.

When change is perceived as the enemy, as something to avoid, it acts like debris in the river, slowing, even stopping your progress. Causing things to pool up and stagnate.

When change is embraced, and recognized as natural, everything flows easily, even past large obstacles like rocks and fallen logs.

What’s your perception of change?

Is it good? Bad? Easy or hard?

Consider different kinds of change.

What comes to mind when you think about internal change, like changing a habit?

What’s it like when you think about external change, like moving or switching careers?

You may notice that your perceptions of change differ based on whether it’s an internal change or external one. And perhaps more importantly, if it’s a change that you’re initiating, or one that’s feels forced on you.

“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”
~ William Shakespeare

Recognizing your beliefs about change is the first step to making it more peaceful and playful. Once you have made your beliefs conscious, you can begin to question them, check in with yourself to see if they are in fact true. To determine if they support you in living the life you want to be living.

You can start by changing your mind, so you can change your behaviors, and ultimately, change the world.

Photo: Multnomah Creek in the Columbia River Gorge