Embracing Change

Well they did it. Yes they did. And a lot of people are not happy about it. I've seen many many versions in the past few days along the same theme, people are just not pleased and they are protesting! "Why did they have to go change Facebook?"

Now for me, personally, I don't know what all the fuss is about. It's a little change. There was a lot of warning. Everything is still there but in a different place, you just have to take the time to look for it. I couldn't find my groups at first but I did find them after a while. I knew they had to be there so I didn't panic. It kind of reminds me of when I go to the grocery store that I've been going to for years and they, once again, move the vegetarian food section. It happens all the time. I've learned to accept it, find an employee and ask where it is now. I don't complain anymore, I just figure it all out.

The ability to handle change is probably one of the most important skills a person needs have to be content in the world because, as the Tao Te Ching says, we live "in the world of the Changing". Everything will change in this world. Your hair will change colour(in my case several times in one week once), your body will change, you friends will change, your job, your home, your lifestyle, your partner, you will be a part of ongoing change all of your life and if that weren't enough you have to watch your children grow and change almost in front of your eyes. To not be able to deal with change well is indeed to not be able to deal well with life.

In fact, the only thing that doesn't change, ever is your essence, that deepest part of you that is inside, observing all of the changes around you. If change is all around you and everything changes then it follows that your ability to cope, adjust, bend and accept the changes that will come along will likely determine the level of your happiness.

Those who fight natural change are fighting a losing battle. Yes, you might be able to slow down the appearance of age with botox or some other injection or surgery however you can't stop the actual changes that are occurring within the body and in effect you are creating a different change rather than stopping the one that was going to happen. We've all seen those overblown puffy collagen lips that are in fact more of a change than nature intended and not particularly one that I can endear to.

The key is to not only not fight the changes that come at you but to embrace them, to open up your heart and your mind to whatever comes your way. We all go through and anyone who had gone through a significant life change or observed someone who has we know that the ones who fair the best are those who handle the change with strength, courage and optimism.

It's also important to not to place too much attachment to this world of the changing. Because we can't control the change it's best we practice letting go. I have gone through major life changes and come out the other end with great lessons and a different and better point of view then I had going in. I've learned along the way that the journey through adversity is easier if we jump in and grab hold of the change with a positive attitude and a willing heart.

As with a canoe ride, it goes much smoother if you ride the rapids instead of fighting against them. Just allow the river of life to pull you along, stay true to yourself at your deepest, innermost level, and let go. We're all just along for the ride anyway, might as well sit back and enjoy it.

As to facebook, I'm not saying that someone who doesn't like the changes they've made can't handle change well and that therefore they must not be able to handle life well. That is a leap I certainly can't take. That was just a jumping off point for my topic today. But the fact of the matter is they've changed it before, they'll change it again and we'll all be there going "here we go again" and within a few weeks we'll have all but forgotten what it was like before the change. And some things we might even end up liking better if we go into it with an open mind. Last time they made the profile pictures bigger when you were searching for friends and that was a great improvement.

Embrace change. There is nothing else that you can do. I said this to a blogger friend the other day to give her a chuckle "When life hands you lemons you can choose to become sour or you can use it to remove stains".(Just a little change there but did YOU think I was going to use the old lemonade cliche' too?*wink*)

And remember this, there is opportunity to be had because sometimes you get to be the one who makes the change rather than the person who has to simply deal with it. There is a definite advantage to that, it's the only way we can improve our lives for the better. We just have to be unafraid to embrace the process of change we have to go through to get there.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Ha! I LOVE the lemon option ;)
This is such a cool topic. You know, when I finished treatment I struggled with what it meant to be a "thriver," new term for "survivor." I found a book called "Picking up the Pieces," which was written by two women from Vancouver. It is all about how to move on with your life afer cancer. Anyway, they based their premise on the change management theories of Peter Senge, and others like him.
You are right, change is something we need to deal with everyday. It is HOW we choose to deal with it that makes the difference.
As for Facebook - I have been a member for a few years now - hardly ever go on it! Aaargh as Michelle would say!
xoxoxo
Thanks Audrey. Sounds like a good book. The lemons..that`s your shout out..lol.

Breeze
Anonymous said…
Lovin' the shout-out!
Daria said…
Yes I agree ... ride the rapids instead of fighting against them ...

I need to remind myself of that often enough.
April said…
Going with the flow of change, yes very wise. I kind of like the Facebook changes myself :) Change is the only constant, after all.
nollyposh said…
Oh Lol! i didn't even notice the difference!
Probably says a lot about me X;-)