On the subject of change, the Buddhists got it right. Everything changes. Everything is impermanent. Everything that we take for granted is changing, constantly. The formation of the clouds in the sky at this moment is unique and will never be repeated. Every cell in our bodies is replaced, some quickly, some more slowly, every seven years. Our planet and the universe are in a state of continual, inconceivable transformation. As I write, the price of gasoline has drifted to over three dollars per gallon. By the time you read this piece, this price may seem outrageously inexpensive or very high.
The fact that everything changes is good news. Or, actually, as the Buddhists and scientists would say, it is neither good news nor bad news. It is what is, neither good nor bad . . . and this is good news! However, we often find it difficult to accept change and the uncertainty that goes along with it. We grasp at what we know and what is familiar and resist anything that might change them. Our desires can also be a form of resistance: perhaps we want things to be different than the way they are, or we desire a particular outcome, a certain future, and we resist other possibilities.
When we stop resisting what is or what might be, when we let go of grasping at what we have or what we want, we see that change is neither good nor bad. When we do this, we can see our lives and the world the way they actually are. We become more effective because we can respond appropriately to any situation. Like change, any event is never wholly bad nor wholly good. For example, a negative effect of expensive gasoline is that it puts an undue burden on those with lower incomes, since high gas prices drive up the costs for everyday necessities, such as food, clothes, and household items. On the other hand, a positive effect of higher gas prices is that they will encourage the development of alternative energy sources and better forms of public transportation, resulting in fewer greenhouse gasses and a less gasoline-dependent world.
We inhabit a changing, dynamic world in continual flux. When we don’t cling to what we have and resist change, we can more fully enter the situation at hand and be more open to learning from whatever may arise. As with all the aspects of our lives, this is easier to see and understand than it is to implement in our daily lives.
Here are some practices to explore to embrace and embody change:
– Beginners mind – seeing things fresh, being curious and open, not trying to be an expert
– Nonjudgment – not labeling and judging, seeing that we create story and context
– Nonstriving – not grasping or pushing away
– Equanimity – balance and wisdom, resilience in the midst of change
– Letting be –no need to let go, just let be
– Compassion – cultivating love for yourself and for others
Adapted from Less: Accomplishing More By Doing Less