Change

“Change is inevitable in life. You can either resist it and potentially get run over by it, or you can choose to cooperate with it, adapt to it, and learn how to benefit from it. When you embrace change you will begin to see it as an opportunity for growth.”  Jack Canfield

We change each day as we are exposed to different views and conversations which will amend the way we view the world or even a particular topic. 

At other times, we decide that we are going to alter our lives and incorporate new learnings and that can be frustrating and fun at the same time.  Commencing a new education, such as university or a short course.  Starting to learn a new sport or artistic endeavour.  This often feels a little clunky as we learn new tools to assist with the process of this new learning.

Unfortunately, events and circumstances may force change on us, change that we don’t like or weren’t ready for. 

Changes that impact on our everyday life and make it difficult.  This happened to us all a few years ago, when COVID changed the world and for some of us, this involved locked downs, locked borders and this also impacted on the ability to attend work, school and socialise.  Many people are still impacted from this time.

Sudden illnesses, such as cancer and their treatment, also impact on the life of the person, their family members and their friends.  Carer fatigue is often a result of watching your loved one’s life changing and the added weight of taking over some other duties and how your role/relationship has changed with this.  Added to this stress is the new language that is discussed, the medical system and all this being out of your control.  Life certainly is challenged at this time for everyone – the person and their loved ones.

Chronic illnesses also impact on people’s lives, and this may decrease their health and wellbeing over a longer period of time.  The grief and loss from any illness is felt by the person with the illness and also of their loved ones as it impacts on the persons ability to live their life as they did prior.

Whilst embracing change is not always the way we want to view our world, especially, when it is change that we didn’t ask for or want.  Working with this new way, rather than fighting against it – helps us move through it easier.  Perhaps an alternative word would be “acceptance”?