The Winds of Change
By Sheila Thornton Warfield
I know you’ve heard this before, “the only constant is change”. Yet, many of us forget this and believe that we can determine when change occurs in our lives. However, what we do control is our response to change and that’s something to remember and act on. Truth is, when we face the wind gusts of change, we clinch onto what is solid, familiar, and safe. Then, we close our eyes tightly, hoping and praying that when it’s time to reopen them, we will be untouched.
Most often, these gusts trigger fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. We are at risk of becoming immobilized. When we find the courage to open our eyes (even if our lives have not been directly impacted), the world around us has changed. And, if the world has changed and our communities have been impacted, how can we say our lives have not changed in any way. The modest shift in consciousness suggests we are now different.
Reframing and removing the rose-colored glasses that can warp our sense of reality to see the truth takes real courage. We must see what is to find our way and navigate the unexpected circumstances triggered by change. This is how we pave our way to new beginnings.
Our world continues to evolve in ways we’ve never imagined. The collective pain over the last two years has reminded us of what’s important and has created an unusual mindset, level of renewal, and focus that have helped us get back to the core of what’s important - more quality time for ourselves, more quality time with family and loved ones, and engaging in experiences that add value and meaning to our lives.
Some of us are indeed more ‘woke’ than ever, and with this new awakening, how do we dare start over? For many of us, what got us here was pain - unexpected deaths, loss of jobs, loss of connections, loss of certainty, loss. Now, we must re-emerge stronger and with greater clarity. We must not look to yesterday as a measure for gauging our happiness or quality of life but look ahead and forge new paths in unforeseen and unfamiliar surroundings. Being courageous, being incredibly honest with ourselves, and taking a leap of faith are all required to welcome the life that’s waiting for us. One of my favorite quotes is by Joseph Campbell — “We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”
“We must be willing to let go….”, I love this start because it reminds us that it’s a choice to ‘let go’ and a chance to rethink those ‘plans’ we’ve set and envisioned for ourselves. I believe this quote also challenges us to remain open to the possibilities that perhaps we’ve never considered until this moment. We simply need to get out of our own ways (and heads).
Now, that’s taking the winds of change and harnessing its energy to achieve the lives we are meant and deserve to have.
Let’s embrace the LIFE waiting for us!