Embracing Change
Of all the stresses that afflict the quality of modern life, the prospect of change and the shadow of the unknown continue to raise peoples’ anxiety levels and sow the seeds of dread in our hearts. Do you ever wonder why we feel like this? Why do we have a problem dealing with change?
Part of the answer can be traced to our distant ancestry. We evolved to be wary of uncertainty since the unknown could hold threats to our survival. It’s hard to imagine a world where food wasn’t available at the nearest supermarket. But, for hundreds of thousands of years, humans struggled with the challenge of finding enough to eat, fresh water to drink and a safe place to shelter from the elements and from hungry predators. For many, we should not forget that these challenges still prevail in the twenty-first century. However, from an evolutionary point of view, these challenges to our very existence left their mark on our behavioural wiring. We are naturally suspicious and often uneasy around any potential change to our circumstances. Even something as simple and innocuous as changing address can spark stress, anxiety, sleepless nights and bouts of depression. The important thing is to recognise this human tendency to feel afraid when things change and take steps to disarm the anxiety response. How do we do this?
Deeper breathing and a minute of physical relaxation where we release the tension in our faces, jaws, tongues, neck and shoulders can work miracles. We’re fully equipped to turn off the stress response simply by relaxing the shoulders and taking a few deeper breaths. These archaic signals tell the brain that there is no danger and that we can return in a few brief moments to normal, efficient functioning. You could view this technique as a way to improve mindfulness since a more relaxed, calm and rational mindset neutralises the fear response and helps all of us to see everything more clearly.
The fact is that change is the most natural phenomenon we can experience. Nothing is still. Ever. Everything is in a state of movement, transition and transformation. Mindfulness and a calmer state of mind promote a sense of detachment from the chaos that swirls around us. We can see the world and the flow of change that informs everything we perceive without the emotional lenses that distort our appreciation of life. Change creates new opportunities. Change invites growth. Change encourages us to seize the moment and value the gifts that enrich our lives. When we release the bonds of attachment, we see the world from a fresh perspective. Look at your world and everything you’ve gathered and stored and accumulated. One day, it will all be gone. Do not mourn the loss. Free yourself from fear and sadness and bring your awareness fully into the present moment. Here, no fear exists. But this is where you will discover a deeper sense of self that transcends all doubt and anxiety. This is where change is as natural as your breath. And just as helpful in sustaining your existence.