How Does Embracing Change Work?
Embracing change, rather than resisting it, serves us best.
Nobody denies that change is scary. Humans seek comfort, be it in our homes, relationships, clothing, foods we consume, and so forth. There is a certain level of comfort in the familiar. As such, when that which we are used to changes, it can be extremely disconcerting.
Like it or not, change will occur. That is the nature of the universe. Change is a constant. Embracing change, therefore, will smooth any given transition that will occur.
A large part of why people will vote for our so-called leaders, despite it being completely against their best interests, is because they buy into the fear of change they peddle. They love to scare people by telling them change will have an adverse effect on their lives, so they need to vote for the person who won’t allow those changes to happen.
Of course, this is complete bullshit. There will still be change, but it will only benefit the leaders and their friends and benefactors. Look at current American politics if you don’t believe this.
No matter how much you resist, no matter how hard you attempt to avoid change, it will happen. That is one of the biggest truths in the universe. Change is. Change will be. So, we can embrace change…or deny reality.
Yes, there is change that is bad. Accidents happen, relationships end, people die, natural disasters occur, jobs get lost, and so on. This is nearly always a change that will produce resistance. While that’s completely natural, how long we resist and choose to hold on to the negativity is entirely up to each of us to decide for ourselves.
Embracing change that is unwanted is particularly challenging
These bad changes hurt. They can cut pretty deep, and leave us with enormous wounds. Even when we work to stave off the bleeding, they heal slowly.
But they will heal. Everyone feels loss and pain differently. Still, after a while, hanging onto it is a choice.
Yes, I recognize that the passing of a loved one, a terrible change, is going to sting long after they are gone. I am in no way saying you should “get over it” or to “forget it” or “let it go.” However, I AM saying that if it cripples other aspects of your life and prevents you from living, still, it may be wise to seek professional help.
It is harder embracing change that’s undesirable. As such, it may just be more realistic to accept change in these instances. Albeit begrudgingly.
Change is inevitable. It cannot be stopped. So when we are embracing change, we open ourselves up to controlling it instead.
How do we control change outside of ourselves? By claiming control over our reaction to change. When we choose how to respond to change, we have taken control.
Consciousness creates reality. We can choose what that means for us by how we react to change. When we resist, we are bound to create a reality we do not desire. If, however, we embrace change, we might just be able to control it, and direct it for the better.
Unsurprisingly, this is not easy. We can change our personal tangibles and intangibles, be they clothing or habits, but we can only react to change from without.
Or can we? When we choose to embrace change, are we reacting…or are we acting? Intentional action, along with thought and feeling, manifests almost everything we desire for ourselves.
You get to decide what to do.
Embracing change is an intentional action
Recognizing the inevitability of change, we all get to choose. We can take our thoughts about a given change, use them to work with and through our feelings, and from there to choose how to act. Instead of being reactive to change, we just might get to be proactive towards it instead.
There is no need to fear change. Wanted or unwanted, change is an opportunity. It can be a do-over, a reset, or a fresh start. It may not be in the manner you desire, but that doesn’t make it any less or more powerful.
I do feel I need to put in an important note here. There is an important difference between resisting change, and embracing an alternative to change. There are things that happen from outside of ourselves which we cannot control, but which we still need to take a stand about. About, not against.
For example – the whole anti-climate-change movement. I could stand against the changes they are implementing against scientific fact; or I could choose to stand with scientists and reasonable leaders who are for addressing and maybe fixing the issue. Rather than be reactive, this is a proactive position.
Being against something is not nearly as powerful as being for something else. This is completely applicable to the idea of embracing change. You can resist one change by actively seeking and choosing another.
It all boils down to decisions and choices. Do you prefer to be a victim of circumstance, or instead take charge and embrace what changes?
Do you see the power in embracing change?
This is the three-hundred forty-fourth entry in my series. These weekly posts are ideas for, and my personal experiences with, walking along the path of life. I share this journey as part of my desire to make a difference in this world along the way.
Thank you for joining me. Feel free to re-blog and share.
The first year of Pathwalking, including some expanded ideas, is available here.
After more than 6 years of Pathwalking, I have launched a Patreon to garner support for these works, and more.
