Life is never as fixed, solid or permanent as most people would like to believe it to be. On the contrary, life is and always will be a rather fluid experience, and learning not only to accept that fact, but also to actively embrace it, is an important part of the Seeker’s journey.
Change happens. It doesn’t matter who or where you are, how well established your career is, how much money you have tucked away in your bank account, how often you visit the gym or how long you have been in your current relationship. It doesn’t even matter how long you have been on the spiritual path, or how ‘enlightened’ you have managed to become. If you are breathing in and out on a regular basis then you will, make no mistake, experience change.
Many people view change as a rather negative thing, and that’s because we are creatures who value the illusory comforts of stability and security. I say illusory because there is no such thing as genuine stability and security, not in the long term. And even if there were, I doubt that we would actually be very satisfied with that kind of permanence, because without change there can be no growth.
The physical universe is governed by the law of cause and effect, but in most cases that law also plays out through the process of death and rebirth. In the most literal sense, we are born, we age and then we die, but the same process can also be found to be working – albeit in a more metaphorical manner – in our careers, finances, relationships and even in world affairs.
It is necessary for some things to die so that new things can grow and flourish in their place, and the Seeker should remember that fact whenever he is experiencing a change which seems, on the surface, to bring nothing but pain, confusion and insecurity.
Consider the man who is suddenly fired from his job, for example. He may have been working diligently for the same company for a decade or two, and may have become used to the apparent security of his position. In this situation, the sudden loss of his security might appear wholly negative, but several months later he might well be enjoying working at an even better job which is not only more satisfying, but also more rewarding. Had he not experienced the ‘death’ of his original job, he may never have experienced the ‘birth’ of the better one.
This same principle of the death of one thing making way for something else – and in many cases something better – can be found everywhere in life. It can be found in relationships, hobbies, social groups, political parties and – most obviously of all – in nature, where the seasons themselves follow a repeating cycle of growth, aging, death and rebirth.
How to Embrace Change
Given that life is fluid and change happens, and we don’t often know exactly how subsequent events will unfold, how should Seekers view the changes they encounter in their everyday lives? The following guidelines may prove useful…
– First, accept the change. Begin by accepting that change has happened, and that this is just a normal part of life. The fact that things have changed isn’t, in itself, either bad or good. It simply is what it is, and the sooner you accept that reality, the better.
– Next, remind yourself that change is the way to growth, and that nothing which grows can ever do so without first leaving something behind. The change which you are experiencing is therefore an opportunity to grow in some way, even if you do not yet understand how.
– Having reminded yourself that change precedes growth, look for ways in which you could turn the current situation to your advantage in some way. What could the universe be trying to teach you, or what opportunities could it be inviting you to explore? Be open to all possibilities, for your future is unlikely to be a mere rehash of your past.
– Finally, learn to trust. You have experienced plenty of changes already in your life, many of which were quite necessary to bring you to your current position, so trust that the universe knows exactly what it is doing and allow it to continue guiding your way. The more you trust, the less you will resist change, and the more comfortable your journey through life will be.
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