“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old,
but on building the new.” — Socrates
What might happen if we transformed the way we view change? Rather than fearing change, what if we were to approach it as an opportunity for new insight and growth — what then?
One of my favorite places to be is at the beach, with the ocean as the backdrop. There is something so soothing about the sound of the waves and the incredible views. I love that as the tides change, so too does the appearance of the beach, if only in subtle ways.
Nature creates change on a daily basis. It occurs so effortlessly that the change in itself becomes soothing.
My sons have taken to collecting beach glass, so we enjoy a lot of time by the ocean. We search the shoreline for any size, shape, and color of worn and weathered glass. Through their eyes, anything we find is a treasure worthy of adding to the collection. They view the changing tides as a gift because with each new tide comes an opportunity to discover more beach glass that may have washed up on the shore.
Throughout my life, I have often resisted change because it can be scary and uncomfortable. Sure, certain kinds of change can be intriguing, but despite the allure it can still prove unnerving. Hanging on to the familiar often seems like the easier alternative.
The ocean and its tides are a wonderful metaphor for change that may help us view it in a more favorable light. Each time the tides change, a new landscape is revealed. Within this new landscape are treasures and beauty that wouldn’t have been visible without the transformation.
When we view change as a catalyst for new, exciting opportunities, we move our energy from fighting change to embracing it. From this viewpoint, life becomes more fluid and inspiring.
Sometimes we can push for change to happen too quickly because we want to relieve the discomfort of sitting in the unknown. One way to ease our discomfort is to lean in and embrace being uncomfortable. We can give ourselves permission to be gentle and kind with ourselves as we move through change.
If we choose to, we can savor the process and transform how we view the ripples in our lives. We can adopt the mindset of a young child eager to discover the treasures brought about by change.
It is amazing what we can create in our lives when we resist the urge to fight change, and instead focus on the good that can come from it. It is empowering to let go of what no longer serves us to make room for the treasures within transformation.
How might you lean into the changing tides in your life?
This article was adapted from Emily Madill’s book, ‘Fall in Love With Your Life, One Week at a Time’.
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Originally published at www.huffingtonpost.com on September 16, 2016.
Originally published at medium.com