Your Power To Change

by Sharon S. Golden

Published in South Texas Home, Garden & Lifestyle Magazine; Summer 2004

Have you recently changed jobs, homes, relationships or are you considering a change in some area of your life? The spectrum of change in our lives varies from the simple changes we make every day such as the type of clothing we wear, the foods we eat, our exercise routine or the kind of vehicle we drive to the major changes we face when we loose a loved one, move across the country, change careers or make other major changes that bring us face to face with the need to let go of the past and embrace the present. Understanding change can increase our trust and confidence in our ability to thrive in new situations and help us to be more open to the infinite possibilities for change within each of us.

What is change, anyway? It appears to be somewhat of a mystery. Change is a natural part of all living things. Everything that's alive is constantly changing. The seasons change, our bodies change, all of nature changes and people change their point of view, their preferences or the options they consider in any situation. It's a natural part of life. A change in our thinking is at the heart of every change we make. People change because of insight that allows them to see something in a new way.

The power that we have to change can be transforming as well as fun and exciting. Change can offer a breath of fresh air that infuses us with new life, freshness, vitality, creative ideas and new opportunities to express our unlimited potential. Our ability to flow with the tides of change is critical for our wellbeing. A healthy state of mind evidenced by positive feelings and willingness to let go of the past makes change natural and effortless. An insecure state of mind and the desire to hold on to the past makes change seem harder. Fortunately, the human spirit is resilient and our innate health is buoyant, constantly resurfacing to return us to a positive view of life.

So, is the solution for dealing with change to try to have more positive thoughts about change? Not really. We have a continuous flow of thoughts and our experience of change is a direct result of our own state of mind. Contrary to how it may seem, our experience of change is created inside of us rather than coming from anything external. Our experience of change is not caused by our boss, our spouse, the company we work for, the neighbors, the kids, the dog or anything outside of us. Our experience of change and of life itself is being created inside each of us from moment to moment as a result of our own state of mind. We have the power to change our experience at any time by letting go of habitual ways of thinking, clearing our mind and opening to a new point of view that allows us to see all of life in a new way.

We each have inner resiliency that allows us to land on our feet during times of change, to adapt to new ways and bounce back from major changes that impact our lives. This inner resiliency for change is like an automatic reset button that brings us effortlessly back to a state of mental wellbeing. We point ourselves in the direction of wellbeing when we embrace change, are willing to see people and situations in a new way, accept life changes that we have no control over and follow our own hearts through the myriad of changes we face on a daily basis. Change is part of the adventure we call life.

If change is so natural, then why is it that we're all sometimes so uncomfortable with it? Many individuals associate change with the unknown, anticipating that the unknown may be a scary place where they're at the mercy of something outside of their control. The desire to avoid feelings of insecurity that may be associated with change, along with the comfort of holding on to something that's known promotes a status quo and contributes to reluctance to change. It doesn't really matter where our thoughts about change originate. The key is that they're simply thoughts. When we feel insecure, it's the result of our own state of mind. Our thoughts are like musical notes. When we let go of insecure thinking, new thoughts flow into our mind and the tone of the music in our life changes. This change happens effortlessly as a result of letting go. Our own thinking determines our experience of change and we have an unlimited potential for new insights and ideas that can change how we see people and situations. Although we don't have control over all of the changes we experience in life, we do have choices about how we handle those changes and whether we approach them with grace and ease or with resistance and pain.

Life is a continuous cycle of death and rebirth. We constantly let go of old ways of thinking and being as we embrace the new. Life ebbs and flows just like the tides of the ocean. Our external form and surroundings change continuously but through the connection we each have with the source of life, we have an inner resiliency and an unlimited capacity to adapt to change. The more we understand change as a normal, natural, healthy part of life, the easier it becomes to embrace and flow with it. This understanding supports us in considering changes that can enrich our lives and bring out our potential for greater wellbeing. Nature is our greatest teacher about change. It demonstrates the capacity we each have to embrace, accept and flow with the changes within us as well as those around us. When we embrace life and live in the present, change will happen naturally without effort on our part, just as it does in nature.

How do you feel about change? Are you open to making changes in your life? Do you embrace change or resist it? Do you live life with your knees flexed ready to meet the changes we all experience on a daily basis or do you lock your knees in an effort to resist it? Here are some ways you can make friends with change, increase your comfort level with it and learn to accept, trust and enjoy the natural flow of change in your life:

  • Spend time in nature and reflect on what nature can teach you about change.
  • Journal or reflect on past changes you've made in your life. This can help you to see how your inner resiliency for change has been supporting you.
  • Journal or reflect on positive benefits you've experienced from changes you made in the past.
  • To increase your comfort level with change, experiment with small changes and have fun with them. This could include changing the colors in your home, changing your hairstyle, adding something new to your wardrobe, trying a new recipe, taking a new class or planting a tree or some flowers.
  • Be open to different points of view. Listen to others and learn about their point of view. Being able to see different points of view helps to broaden the options you're able to see in your own life.
  • Journal or reflect on the possibilities for change in your life.
  • Notice and support positive changes in family and friends, your workplace and your community.
  • Celebrate and embrace the changes that are part of your life. Practice living in the present and seeing the choices and options you have for change. Recognize and enjoy the positive benefits from the changes you make every day.