Ch-Ch-Changes…

Sandstone Falls, New River West Virginia

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.
Heraclitus

…or something like that.  There is some scholarly debate regarding the translations of Heraclitus’s wise words, but that is not germane here.  Wherever the above translation comes from, it makes a valid point.  Sure it’s a bit philosophical, but that never hurt anyone. Well, maybe it did.

In a previous blog I threw out the idea of using the ever-present New River as a means of gaining perspective and maintaining some semblance of balance in my life.  Imagine that the same, ubiquitous river that serves as my anchor in a hectic world can also be a useful metaphor for the continual flux of our lives.

Change comes in many forms: sometimes grandiose and abrupt while other times are incremental and subtle.  We deal with change on a daily basis.  Sometimes we don’t realize change has occurred until after the fact and sometimes we fret about change that we know is coming, but about which we can do nothing. We can embrace the change, leave the situation in which the change is occurring (work), or resist the change.  Unfortunately, we often choose the last option – Resistance.

Say it ain't so, Locutus of Borg!

Resistance is not futile, but it sure isn’t a whole lot of party hats and chicken dancing either.  So why are we more  inclined to dig our heels in and make trouble?

We are creatures of habit.  We like routines and we bow up when that change is threatened, regardless of whether or not the change is for the better.  How many times can you look back at a change that you resisted and wonder what the fuss was about.  Usually, once changes are made, we don’t look back.

Resistance to change occurs every day in all facets of life.  This resistance is pervasive enough that hours upon hours of time are spent in the professional world to understand and combat it.  I did a Google search on humans resist change and 9 of the top 10 results related to implementing change or combating resistance to change in the workplace.

This article in Scientific American touches on one reason change may be more difficult as we get older.

Yet even as people older than 30 yearn for what is new, many find themselves unable or unwilling to make fundamental changes in their lives. Researchers say this paradox can be largely explained by the demands of adult responsibilities and that unrealistic expectations may also play a part in thwarting our best intentions. Change is rarely as easy as we think it will be.

The Man with Two Brains

This article delves into the connection between our “two” brains, the regular one in our skull and the other one that resides in our gut and how fear may play a huge part in our resistance to change.

But what if fear was the key factor in resistance to change? And what if this fear was so deep inside of us it was almost invisible? Imagine a fear that runs under your radar, off your screen of awareness and is never, ever thought about consciously.

If this fear was the key factor in one’s resistance to change, then it would be the hidden driver behind so many behaviours that arise during change that we cannot easily logically explain. For the sake of simplicity and example, let’s say that it is a deep fear connected to our very survival – “If I change, I will die.”

Fear is most assuredly a huge component in our resistance to change.  We can be afraid of everything from being left behind, failing or being exposed (on so many different levels).  Egads!  What can we do?

Probably the easiest and most effective way of coping with change is through meditation.

When you meditate, you clear away the information overload that builds up every day. When your mind is clear of distracting thoughts, you gain new perspectives and new ways of handling stress and other problems. You become more self-aware. You focus on the here and now — not on your ever-growing to-do list.

That sounds pretty good to me.  I think I may just take a trip down to the river and clear my noggin.