Are you one of the many who shudder at the thought of change? When situations, our playmates, our playgrounds change we may resist letting go of the familiar. We may feel afraid and unsure if we can handle the inevitable that change comes wrapped in and the fact that we are not in control. Research tells us the human response to change is not typically a pleasant experience. We want that safe feeling of being comfortable in our own skin which for most is staying with those things that are familiar , and change (uncertainty) feels threatening (much like when the Tyrannosaurus Rex chasing our ancestors created fight or flight) and increases our levels of anxiety and fear. Furthermore, our conditioned habits and routine activities we have grown to accept as our “normal familiar” ways of living are hardwired in our brain in the temporal lobe where stored memories and long standing habitual patterns exist. We no longer find it necessary to pay attention to these stored familiar ways and responses . The practice of our routines, habits, and familiar modes of behavior are so strongly incorporated into the basal ganglia (the group of neurons in the temporal lobe of the brain) that the brain taps into our stored memories of how we have gone through our daily lives for an extended amount of time.
Perhaps you already are thinking you never have chosen change because even if unhappy with the current situations you have found yourself in, you would rather maintain the status quo than risk being in an uncertain and unfamiliar state. For a minute reflect back to 2000 when the world changed quickly or to five-ten years ago. Did you change your type of music or books? Did you change your style of clothing? Did you change friendships or partners? Did you change the food you ate or where it came from? If only one “yes” came up then you did choose change. These are very superficial examples of change. Why do you feel embracing change at this stage of your life would benefit you in any way or would it?
Before I offer some amazing benefits that may enter your life when you make a choice of change allow me to point out some changes you may have already experienced:
Separating from your parent(s) when you entered kindergarten or first grade; the birth and beginning of a sibling; moving into a new community and changing schools; getting your first taste of music or literature; graduating from high school and leaving home; getting a pet; discovering a hobby you enjoyed and engaging with it; learning a new language; going on your first date; traveling to a new place; making first and later other friends; falling in love, and much more!
Some suggestions to begin to put change into action in your life are accept that change will happen whether you agree to it or not; be open minded to the shifting of new perspectives and ideas; be willing to do and approach things in a different way; Challenge your old beliefs by asking yourself if they are really working for you today; work with a personal coach or mentor ; and use your fears as a teacher as you rise above them and feel them as you dive off the proverbial cliff that comes with the freedom of new experiences.
By being willing to embrace change even if it is scary we will most likely begin a new pathway for understanding who we really are , discovering our dreams for ourselves, uncovering our passions and interests. Change will be a catalyst to going past just surviving into the land of thriving. Every area of our life can be touched and improved upon with change. Change can open our mind and spirit to creativity. We can attempt doing new things and even learning from our mistakes. Mistakes are stepping stones to our internal growth. When we risk embracing change we can become more focused and discover the innovative life we want to be living, and act upon it. Change is like throwing a stone into a river: we watch it as it unfolds, creating multitudes of ripples that have the potential to affect each and every area of our life, even our personal relationships.Every change we take on is a portal to more beginnings and the entry way to living a magical life. Think of how the butterfly embraces its metamorphosis. Without change it would still be a caterpillar crawling on the ground without the freedom to fly!
“If nothing changes, nothing changes” – Donna Barnes
Jaguarwind 