Change Is Not only Normal, But Should Be Exepected

Looking at the different phases of my life has made me recognize two things; change is constant and rarely comes without growth.

Buckle Up For The Ride - Change Will Happen

I believe that most of us know that change is constant, but we struggle with it. Both direct actions we take and indirect external influences will drive change. When I was younger, I would fight to control my environment so much that I would often make situations worse or even miss opportunities. It wasn’t until I was older that I learned to accept change as a part of reality and an important step to both sanity and personal growth.

If you have ever taken a driver’s course you may have learned that when your car spins you should turn in the direction that you want to go to regain control. Doing this requires a level of calm and the ability to step outside of the problem. If you focus on the lack of control, you may get into a wreck. Your life, in both easy and times of difficulty, may need that same level of calm.

There will be times either directly or indirectly that change will need to be considered or occur. But remember that although change may have less comfort, that does not always equate to difficulty. These times may have both visible and hidden gems available for you, but your focus has to be on the long-term.

If You Learn To See Things For What They Are Change Is Manageable

Where Teresa and I have lived and practiced the “acceptance of change” principle the most as a couple is with my career. From leaving a company that I invested almost twenty years into and even a few “resets” we have journeyed forward. Accepting the reality of where we were at those points at the start was difficult, but we have learned to agree. We have learned to be on the same team and things have continuously carried on.

“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters” - Epictetus

Thinking back to my biggest career change there were some facts I had to accept:

• Even with a strong salary, I worked too much and my job was interfering with my family
• I was not doing something I was passionate about or even believed in
• The definition of doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. So points one and two would remain facts until there was a change.

Sure, starting something new may have unfamiliar elements, but take time to remember your why. Yes, adjusting to something different may heighten the feeling of uncertainty, but can you still see your vision? So for us, making a career change was the right thing to do. In doing so, I later could become a professional Software Engineer. We could change the realities we faced for the better. We could finally address points one and two of our reality.

Those who know me well may hear me say - “Step away from the problem.”,” Pause for a second and look around at your environment.”, or “What are you trying to accomplish?”. These words help me regain focus when I am dealing with change, and I learned them from the writings of Paul.

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:11-13

You Literally Do This Everyday So Drive On

Remember the driver’s course I mentioned earlier? Driving is often how I look at life, especially when change may come. A clear path to destinations, roadblocks, unexpected detours, on-ramps, off-ramps, and traffic lights. And just like driving as you gain experience in life you learn better ways to navigate.