Embracing Change
During a family vacation, I was swimming at a beach along the shores of Lake Ontario, when an observation stopped me and really deeply made me think. The water was flowing easily and peacefully around anything that was in the way, including my own body swimming in the lake. There is no upset or angst that it has to change its path and flow around it. It just simply moves around it and continues its flow. Also I noticed a leaf floating on that water, which allowed itself to be carried without resistance, without objection, without pain. It just flowed upon the waves and surrendered to the flow of the water.
I was thinking about how most of us as humans, myself included, resist change. Something unexpected comes along and we freeze, or resist, we may cry, feel pain and do whatever we can to return things to what we know…to the familiar. Change brings the unknown and that can feel frightening. I wondered, what would happen if we suspended our judgements and feelings of fear about change?
In nature, change is embraced. In the flow of the water, the floating leaf, in the budding rose, in the opening chrysalis as the butterfly emerges, change is welcomed and embraced. We see it in each of these as well as in the gracious surrender in the changing of the seasons. Among trees, animals, seeds, wind, and the Earth as a whole.
As I thought this through, swimming through the water that day, I wondered how my life might be different if I embraced change in the same way in which the water flows...serenely, without resistance, surrendering to what is, and being open to where it will carry me. What if I welcomed change with curiosity, and withheld my judgement of it as scary or bad? We need time to process change, to become familiar with it. It is possible that just maybe, we might find that it was the best thing that could have ever happened to us. It just may lead us in the direction of our dreams.
Reading this reminded me of the time I quit my stable office job to pursue freelance design work. I’d spent years in a routine that felt safe but also stifling, and the thought of change was both exhilarating and terrifying. The first few weeks were a blur of client pitches, late‑night revisions, and moments of doubt when I wondered if I’d made a mistake https://www.statista.com/statistics/270728/market-volume-of-online-gaming-worldwide/ Yet, as I settled into a rhythm, I discovered a creativity I hadn’t accessed in years, and the flexibility allowed me to travel to a small coastal town where I could work with the sound of waves in the background. The transition wasn’t smooth; there were financial bumps and the occasional lonely evening, but each…
Reading your thoughts on embracing change struck a chord with me because it reminded me of the summer I left my stable corporate job to travel across the country on a motorcycle. I’d always been comfortable in a routine, but the idea of “leaning into the unknown” finally pushed me to trade my desk for a leather jacket and a map. The first few weeks were a blur of flat tires, unexpected weather, and strangers who offered a warm cup of coffee in tiny roadside diners https://www.abc.net.au/news/ I learned to trust my instincts, to accept that plans would shift, and that every detour held its own lesson. By the time I returned home, I felt more resilient and open to…
Reading your piece on “Embracing Change” struck a chord with me because it reminded me of the time I left my corporate job to start a small bakery. I’d spent a decade in a predictable office routine, and the idea of swapping spreadsheets for flour and ovens felt terrifying. The first few weeks were a whirlwind of sleepless nights, burnt loaves, and a relentless stream of self‑doubt. Yet, each small victory—a perfectly risen sourdough, a happy customer’s smile—reinforced that stepping into the unknown was worth the risk https://www.monash.edu/ I learned to trust the process, to accept that mistakes are part of growth, and to celebrate the unexpected twists that come with any new venture. It wasn’t just about changing careers;…
Reading this post made me think back to the summer I decided to leave my stable office job and move to a tiny coastal town to pursue freelance writing. It was terrifying at first—my routine shattered, finances uncertain, and friends questioning my choice. Yet, each day brought small victories: a sunrise jog on the beach, a coffee shop client call, and the satisfaction of finally writing on my own terms https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/finance/household-expenditure-survey/latest-release The transition forced me to confront old habits and re‑learn how to prioritize my own wellbeing over external expectations. I discovered that change isn’t a single dramatic event but a series of tiny adjustments that, over time, reshape who we are. Looking back, I realize the anxiety I felt…