Change

Change is the crux of our history and of our lives. Change is all around us in the change from day to night and warm to cold. The change we see in the seasons and the beauty that comes with the birth of spring after the calm hibernation of winter. All of these changes are gradual. They require time, care, and the natural process that is change!

Most of us are good at the beginning or the start and we are very excited about the end or the finish but the process is what trips us up.

Think about the constant changes in your life. As we get older our bodies go through so many changes both internal and external. Our eyes get weak, our hair turns gray or falls out, our middle expands, and we need more sleep. If we’re lucky we watch our children grow into adults and have children of their own and the emotions that we feel during these many changes are varied and deep. We may feel insecure about our looks, we feel sad, lonely, and possibly depressed because of the empty nest that is now our home.

So how do these changes affect us? The positive effects are that we grow more intelligent and wise. We mature and find new ways to solve old problems. We advance in our careers or branch off on our own to create our own fortune by acquiring property and savings and self development. We watch our children grown and we find our true self by becoming comfortable in our own skin. Some negative effects usually show up in the forms of habits; chain smoking, binge shopping, over-eating, depression, anxiety, and anger.

Today we are experiencing changes that we haven’t seen for decades. We are a nation at war, our planet is dying and as a result our resources are over stretched and the seasons that were marginally predictable are now uneven with tornados, snow storms, and flooding in places that historically don’t see such bedlam. Not to mention we are in the midst of making political history. Functioning in that much change can be challenging and some uncertainty is expected.

But what can we do about it. How can we still flourish when we are tired all the time? We must make the choice to do the very thing that is causing us stress……CHANGE! We have to change the way we react to stress and change. Easier said than done – YEP! You’re right but with consistent behavior, you will be better equipped to deal with life’s changes as they come at you.

First you have to identify the changes in your life. When I did this exercise, I discovered I had had a major life changing event in my life every year for the past 17 years. Wow right?

MONDAY – Think about the past two years. If you’d like to go further back, feel free, you may be surprised at what you discover. Write down every major life change you’ve endured. From family to work, new boss, gained or lost weight, had children, lost children to school or otherwise, bought a house, lost a house, or perhaps you got married or divorced. Write down everything you can think of so you can really wrap your head around everything that has happened in your life recently.

TUESDAY - Now that you’ve seen how much change you’ve had over the last couple years you can move past it. If you have had any kind of loss, use today to mourn. A loss is not just for a person. If children went off to school, you lost your previous figure (even if it is a good thing), changed jobs or careers. Use today to accept that it has changed. Go to a place that is peaceful or where you can have time to yourself. Now say to yourself: Today, I acknowledge that things are different and it is good. It means I am living. Life will continue to grow from here and I am growing with it. Everyday I am better than I was the day before and I no longer fear change. Life is change and I am living my truest life.

WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY – In order to manage change you must anticipate change. Now you can’t plan for everything since life tends to be pretty random but you can have a plan. Over the past weeks, we’ve done some goal setting and that is all you have to do today.
1. List the things that are going on and how they will change over the next 30-60 days.
2. Now set a goal for them. Visualize and plan your vision of the outcome of your upcoming changes. Do you need more money, is money ok? Do you want to lose weight, are you moving, is your company relocating, or maybe your youngest is graduating; see these events the way you want them to turn out. Close your eyes and use your change meditation above to talk through your visualization.

FRIDAY – You have now accepted that change is the natural flow of life. As you experience the changes in your life, face them with the confidence that you are acting from your truest self. You can’t run from change but you can grow from it. Today is treat day. Celebrate the changes in your life.

Quote of the Week: All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another. Anatole France