Change IS the only constant
I value structure and stability in my life. I used to live a life of constant chaos where I would go from crisis to crisis never knowing what was coming next. Living in this constant state of never knowing how my life would be from one day to the next was the norm for me from my childhood through my late 20's.
It wasn't until I began a life in recovery that I learned I didn't have to live like that. I learned that I could create a life where I could plan for things, know what to expect of my future, and really, lower my stress level so I could make healthier decision in all areas of my life. I have built a life where having a sense of structure and stability is now the norm, not the exception.
With that said, life is life. Things can change on a moments notice. We are all experiencing this in each 24 hours that pass in all areas of our lives. My wife and I made the decision last night to cancel our travel plans that we have been looking forward to since early winter. We made this decision after talking about it amongst ourselves and with my wife's parents, settling on what we believe to be the best decision. In my work in higher education our campus is having to make decisions that are unheard of, and, in a moments notice. Our state and nation are making decisions that give us all reason to worry and wonder.
With learning to value structure and stability in life I have also learned that there is one overriding constant.......change. I can not control the outcome of many things in my world. Today, in Ellensburg, it is snowing as I type this. For the last several weeks we have had spring like weather, and now, today, it's snowing. I love the weather in how it reminds me how little control I have over so much in life.
Think about your own life course. How much of what you planned for your life has changed over time. If you would have asked me 20 years ago if I would be living in Eburg, teaching at a University, and loving it all....I would have laughed. If you would have asked me 10yrs ago if I would watch my mother live her last days in her home and be one of her primary caregivers throughout the process, I wouldn't have believed you. Just 5yrs ago if you would have asked me if I would run a half marathon that would have been laughable. Think about your own life and the changes, good and bad. When we do that it helps us to understand that change is constant.
I can control most things within my personal world. What time I get up, how I dress, what I eat, how much I exercise, etc., etc. I can have some control over the outcome of my relationships depending on how much effort I put into them. I have had friends come and go along the way. Circumstances completely out of my control have changed things forever in that realm. As I keep going further from my personal circle of influence the control I have over change is less and less.
Thus, I always keep in mind the reality that change IS going to happen. It's not a matter of if, but simply when. Sometimes I get a say in that change, but many times I don't. HOW I react to a given change though, that is where I almost always have a ton of say no matter what. Certainly it is appropriate for me to be upset depending on the scenario. Certainly, I can speak my peace about change that his happening. Yet, how I move forward with change, that we know is always going to take place, is entirely up to me.
You have a say in how you move forward with change. You have a choice in how the change effect's you as an individual. I close with a quote from John Wooden:
It wasn't until I began a life in recovery that I learned I didn't have to live like that. I learned that I could create a life where I could plan for things, know what to expect of my future, and really, lower my stress level so I could make healthier decision in all areas of my life. I have built a life where having a sense of structure and stability is now the norm, not the exception.
With that said, life is life. Things can change on a moments notice. We are all experiencing this in each 24 hours that pass in all areas of our lives. My wife and I made the decision last night to cancel our travel plans that we have been looking forward to since early winter. We made this decision after talking about it amongst ourselves and with my wife's parents, settling on what we believe to be the best decision. In my work in higher education our campus is having to make decisions that are unheard of, and, in a moments notice. Our state and nation are making decisions that give us all reason to worry and wonder.
With learning to value structure and stability in life I have also learned that there is one overriding constant.......change. I can not control the outcome of many things in my world. Today, in Ellensburg, it is snowing as I type this. For the last several weeks we have had spring like weather, and now, today, it's snowing. I love the weather in how it reminds me how little control I have over so much in life.
Think about your own life course. How much of what you planned for your life has changed over time. If you would have asked me 20 years ago if I would be living in Eburg, teaching at a University, and loving it all....I would have laughed. If you would have asked me 10yrs ago if I would watch my mother live her last days in her home and be one of her primary caregivers throughout the process, I wouldn't have believed you. Just 5yrs ago if you would have asked me if I would run a half marathon that would have been laughable. Think about your own life and the changes, good and bad. When we do that it helps us to understand that change is constant.
I can control most things within my personal world. What time I get up, how I dress, what I eat, how much I exercise, etc., etc. I can have some control over the outcome of my relationships depending on how much effort I put into them. I have had friends come and go along the way. Circumstances completely out of my control have changed things forever in that realm. As I keep going further from my personal circle of influence the control I have over change is less and less.
Thus, I always keep in mind the reality that change IS going to happen. It's not a matter of if, but simply when. Sometimes I get a say in that change, but many times I don't. HOW I react to a given change though, that is where I almost always have a ton of say no matter what. Certainly it is appropriate for me to be upset depending on the scenario. Certainly, I can speak my peace about change that his happening. Yet, how I move forward with change, that we know is always going to take place, is entirely up to me.
You have a say in how you move forward with change. You have a choice in how the change effect's you as an individual. I close with a quote from John Wooden:
"Don't let what you can't do interfere with what you can do"
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