Inspiration and Life

Embrace Change to Live Your Best Life

Inspiration you need to embrace change

Change is invasive! It affects everyone and everything. You can’t run or hide from it. It is completely unavoidable and is one of those inevitable and irrefutable facts of life.

Nothing in existence is truly static. At a subatomic level, the densest material in the universe contains electrons in constant motion.

“Nature is never static. It is always changing. Everything is in a constant state of flux. Nothing endures. Everything is in the process of either coming into being or expiring.” Kilroy J. Oldster (1950-present)

Why expend energy fighting the inevitable? When you learn to welcome the continuous change around you, you can set your life on a new path. On this path, you can find all the strength, creativity, and motivation you could ever want or need.

In this essay, we will look at three types of change:

• Personal change
• Life change
• World change

Let’s lean into some words of wisdom from the past and present as we examine each type of change:

Personal change

The change that matters most is the change that directly affects you. Rather than struggle with change by attempting to stop it, channel that energy into creating the change you desire. By accepting the undeniability of change, you can better prepare for it and often anticipate its arrival and creation.

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” Socrates (470–399 BC)

To live a more fruitful life, begin where you are. Start by working on yourself. Since you must constantly move into the future, why not move into it with excitement and vigor!

“We cannot become what we want by remaining what we are.” Max Depree (1924–2017)

While everything is in constant motion and changing, some things do not change during our lifetime. For example, you are born into a family and will always be a part of it. You can change your name and abandon everyone you know, but that does not change who you are. You are who you are and will be so long as you live. You may change your beliefs, behaviors, skills, and abilities, but regardless, you are still you!

Instead of wasting time fighting the inevitable, embrace its reality and keep working to make yourself the best version of who you are.

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality.” R. Buckminister Fuller (1895–1983)

You become like those you are around most. Be around people you want to be like, those that lift your spirit and make you happy. Let them influence you to change into a better version of yourself. While you are at it, avoid those that sap your strength and your life.

“Even if you cannot change all the people around you, you can change the people you choose to be around. Life is too short to waste your time on people who don’t respect, appreciate, and value you. Spend your life with people who make you smile, laugh, and feel loved.” Roy T. Bennett (1957-present)

Lastly, how adaptable to change are you? Do you wish to live your life intelligently? If you do, a good question to ask yourself is: “What is my ability to adapt to change?” and go to work on it!

“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.” Stephen Hawking (1942–2018)

Life change

The funny thing about most changes in life is they happen so slowly we barely notice them. This can work for or against us. When we ignore change, its effect can suddenly creep up on us. By paying attention to it, we can, well, change things! Why not use this slow, almost unnoticeable rate of change to your advantage?

“True life is lived when tiny changes occur.” Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910)

Small changes in your life can accumulate into profitable results. For example, the steady process of learning a little each day accumulates into expertise. The consistent savings of small amounts of money accumulate into large amounts over time.

The wonderful thing about this principle of accumulation is making the tiniest of changes consistently over time can accumulate into something magnificent. All you need to do is be intentional in what you do to create the change you desire.

“And that is how change happens. One gesture. One person. One moment at a time.” Libba Bray (1964-present)

Anyone who has lived a few decades can attest that life is full of change. The more you age, the more pain and death you encounter. Also, the older you get, the more you can appreciate the beauty in life and living. Rather than fight or deny what is to come, endure, embrace, and enjoy it.

“Life is about change. Sometimes it’s painful. Sometimes it’s beautiful. But most of the time, it’s both.” Kristin Kreuk (1982-present) as Lana Lang

Embrace the reality that every good thing in your life will come through change. When you take control of what you can change, you change the direction and results of your life. Where does the change originate? In your mind!

“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)

Do you have dreams for the future? Why not dream of a better life? Think about this statement:

If you have no dreams of the future, your future will be fulfilled.

Instead of leaving life to happenstance, why not dream a little? By dreaming, you open yourself to a world of possibilities. When you become committed to a dream and begin to take action to make it happen, you move closer to having your dream come true. To dream is the beginning of creating something new in your life, provided you move from your comfort zone to risk acting on the dream.

What do you have to lose? I would rather be called a dreamer than to have never dreamt.

“Life will only change when you become more committed to your dreams than you are to your comfort zone.” Billy Cox (1939-present)

World change

Every change in human history started with one person and one thought. Someone invented the wheel, just as Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. You will initiate the next big change in your personal world. As said many years ago:

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948)

I have always loved the thought of the butterfly effect, the ripple effect, and the domino effect in life. Each is somewhat distinct, with a common theme of a small thing having ramifications beyond its initial impact. You never know how the small thing you do can affect others far into the future. This is exemplified perfectly in the following quote:

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” Mother Teresa (1910–1997)

All change begins with a single person, a single thought, and a single act. It is also true that change in your world starts with you, with your thoughts, and with your actions. Imagine the power of this multiplied when many others take on the same cause.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Meed (1901–1978)

Since our thoughts create our world, changing our thoughts can change everything. What kind of world have you created for yourself? The only way to change it is to change how you think. How can you change your thoughts which, in turn, will change your world?

“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” Albert Einstein (1879–1955)

Final thoughts

Learning from the past is crucial to recognizing and understanding change in life. By observing and learning from its lessons, we can foresee changes that can help us live a better future.

Everything always moves forward steadily throughout time, stopping for no one. You can attempt to stay stuck in the past, yet it will result in a futile attempt to do so. It’s better to embrace change and move forward to new things, as life stops for no one.

“Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn’t stop for anybody.” Stephen Chobsky (1970-present)

I leave you with a final question: “What one decision to change can you make today that will create the life you want in your heart and dreams?”

“You’re always one decision away from a totally different life.” Mark Batterson (1969-present)

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Bill Abbate Leadership Writer and Editor in ILLUMINATION

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