May 2005 ~ Change
“Everything is on its way to somewhere,” says George Malley, the character played by John Travolta in the movie “Phenomenon.” An ancient eastern proverb says: “You can’t step into the same river twice.” The book of Ecclesiastes reminds us “to everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.” And, of course, there is the common cliché: “The only things you can be certain of are death and taxes.” Each of these statements is saying something about “change.” We talk about it, we philosophize about it, we complain when it happens and sometimes we complain when it doesn’t happen! We see it as inevitable and we see it as impossible, as in “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks!”
Whatever our attitude about it is, “change happens,” to paraphrase another well known cliché! Change happens, either by default or design. We can initiate change or we can respond to the changes that are initiated by others, or by life itself, but we can’t avoid it. We can live by the Serenity Prayer, which invites us to have the serenity to accept what we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference. Or we can adopt the Marine slogan: “You change what you can and what you can’t change, you paint!”
Moving from resistance to change to readiness for change is our work, if we want to meet change creatively. For me, resistance to change shows up as feeling “unpeaceful.” Whenever I experience any degree of worry, anxiety, resentment or fear, I can be sure I am resisting something that involves change. Readiness for change can be motivated by “hitting bottom” or by “being sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Readiness for change can come from a desire to improve in some aspect of our lives, to deepen our spiritual practice, to clean up our “karmic leftovers.” We may seek to improve physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually by changing our habits of diet, recreation, or religious orientation. But, underlying any change, there must be a change in consciousness, if results are to be true and lasting.
I have found direction for the work of change by allowing the word to speak for itself.
Clarity ~ Getting clear about what is really going on. This may include prayer, quiet thought, journaling, talking with a trusted friend or counselor.
Honesty ~ Facing the feelings that getting clear has brought to the surface, whatever they are, no matter how negative, selfish, or unspiritual they seem.
Acceptance ~ Saying “yes” to what is, taking responsibility for my pain and my healing. Being willing to change, not just “get through it.”
New Thought ~ Restating my pain as a new thought that is based in spiritual principle and the highest Truth I know.
Grounding ~ Allowing the affirmation of spiritual principle to reside in my mind and heart. Thinking and speaking words of Truth until they become the foundation on which I stand, the ground of my being.
Expection ~ Expecting to be guided into new ways of being and of behaving. Expecting to see a difference and to make a difference through this change.
In my recent reading, I came across this statement: “Most people go to church to be inspired, but not to be changed.” Perhaps this is true, not only about going to church, but about how we go through life. We do many things with a hope that we will find inspiration and our lives will be better, but with a minimum of effort or change. “Inspired” means to have our interests quickened, our emotions touched, our spirits lifted and these are good things. However, “changed” means to have a fundamental “conversion” take place in the depths of our souls… a transformation of how we see ourselves and our relationship to God. This is where healing lies. This is where power lies. This is what sets us free!
jbm
Whatever our attitude about it is, “change happens,” to paraphrase another well known cliché! Change happens, either by default or design. We can initiate change or we can respond to the changes that are initiated by others, or by life itself, but we can’t avoid it. We can live by the Serenity Prayer, which invites us to have the serenity to accept what we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference. Or we can adopt the Marine slogan: “You change what you can and what you can’t change, you paint!”
Moving from resistance to change to readiness for change is our work, if we want to meet change creatively. For me, resistance to change shows up as feeling “unpeaceful.” Whenever I experience any degree of worry, anxiety, resentment or fear, I can be sure I am resisting something that involves change. Readiness for change can be motivated by “hitting bottom” or by “being sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Readiness for change can come from a desire to improve in some aspect of our lives, to deepen our spiritual practice, to clean up our “karmic leftovers.” We may seek to improve physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually by changing our habits of diet, recreation, or religious orientation. But, underlying any change, there must be a change in consciousness, if results are to be true and lasting.
I have found direction for the work of change by allowing the word to speak for itself.
Clarity ~ Getting clear about what is really going on. This may include prayer, quiet thought, journaling, talking with a trusted friend or counselor.
Honesty ~ Facing the feelings that getting clear has brought to the surface, whatever they are, no matter how negative, selfish, or unspiritual they seem.
Acceptance ~ Saying “yes” to what is, taking responsibility for my pain and my healing. Being willing to change, not just “get through it.”
New Thought ~ Restating my pain as a new thought that is based in spiritual principle and the highest Truth I know.
Grounding ~ Allowing the affirmation of spiritual principle to reside in my mind and heart. Thinking and speaking words of Truth until they become the foundation on which I stand, the ground of my being.
Expection ~ Expecting to be guided into new ways of being and of behaving. Expecting to see a difference and to make a difference through this change.
In my recent reading, I came across this statement: “Most people go to church to be inspired, but not to be changed.” Perhaps this is true, not only about going to church, but about how we go through life. We do many things with a hope that we will find inspiration and our lives will be better, but with a minimum of effort or change. “Inspired” means to have our interests quickened, our emotions touched, our spirits lifted and these are good things. However, “changed” means to have a fundamental “conversion” take place in the depths of our souls… a transformation of how we see ourselves and our relationship to God. This is where healing lies. This is where power lies. This is what sets us free!
jbm
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