The Pain of Change

Change is a constant across all cultures, religions, and people in general. It is something we all must deal with on some level. As we grow up, our bodies change. As we go through school or learning a trade, our skill level and understanding changes. As we work within the relationships we maintain, those change based on the decisions we make pertaining to those relationships. The bottom line is, everything is in a constant state of change. The rate of change varies between circumstances, systems, and mechanisms. One thing people dont often recognize is the pain that often accompanies change. The reason pain is present is because something is being taken away, either literally or figuratively. Sometimes, it is a loved one who is gone from our lives. Other times, it is simply the way we have been doing something that has to be given up for something more practical and more beneficial. In any case, we give up what we have known, and become comfortable with, in order to adapt to another way of being. Many people spend much of their time avoiding change or resisting it; even after it has already taken place. This avoidance and resistance only serves to create a fear of change or a deeper pain once change is embraced. Today, think about the changes that have occured in your life. Have they been for the betterment of your life? If not, how did you learn to embrace them and move on? How did you deal with painful change and what does that say about your strength and resilience as a person? I hope as you read this and as you reflect, you will share some stories of change in the comments section. It is not only through our own experience and reflection that we can grow to become stronger individuals, but through the stories and reflections of others as well.