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CHANGE
IS A PROCESS, NOT AN EVENT
Meeting the Challenge of Change, Part 9
It is common to demand against ourselves in the
process of change. We think that once we have seen clearly the result we
want to produce that somehow it should manifest through our sincere
wishes. It's like wishing you could be beamed up, rather than having to
endure the actual travel procedure of trains, planes and automobiles.
In reality, change is a process, not an event.
Change unfolds over time, like a flower opening to the sun.
Yet change is not necessarily linear in it's
unfoldment. We often imagine that once we declare we are going from point
A to point B that we will be traveling in a straight line. Yet more likely
than not, we find our route to our outcome is quite un-linear. Our map may
look like an abstraction of movement.
Instead of heading directly to our destination,
let's say due east, we may find ourselves heading north and then course
correcting and moving southeast and then course correcting and moving
northwest, only to course correct again and find ourselves moving due
west, and on and on until we finally get to where we are going.
Imagine you are actually able to get from point A to
point B without any supposed detours. Imagine how sterile and predictable
your trip would be. Ask yourself how much adventure you would have, or
opportunity for learning and discovery, if you made the trip as expected.
Now imagine that your trip looked like A > F >
T > G > P > C > B. Which journey would have been more
enriching, more exciting, more adventurous? Would you prefer to be the
person at the end of the first trip as compared with the person you would
be at the end of the second? Or would you prefer the richness of the
second adventure?
If there were two people at a party, one who
consistently was able to get from point A to point B with relative
linearity, or one who enjoyed a few detours along the way - which one do
you imagine would be a more interesting person to get to know?
I'm guessing for most of us, we'd enjoy hearing
about the adventures of the one who managed to navigate through the
unpredictability of change. We might even learn something from their
stories.
Since change is as it is, our choice is to either
enjoy the journey or argue with the detours. At each seemingly detour you
can ask yourself, "Is there a gift, a learning, an opportunity for me
at this moment?" Harvest the blessing, and then reset your course
towards your intended destination.
The trip will take as long as it takes. Keep your
eyes focused on where you are going and enjoy the adventure along the way.
QUOTES:
"A truly happy person is one who can enjoy
the scenery on a detour."
~ Unknown ~
"Some people think that as soon as you plant
a tree, it must bear fruit. We must allow it to grow a bit."
~Prince Tunku Putra Abdul Rahman ~
PRACTICALLY SPEAKING:
- When you discover that 'something has happened'
that was not on your agenda for the day - pause - take a breath
- allow yourself to embrace - whatever 'it' is
- introduce yourself to 'it' - let 'it' introduce
itself to you
- ask it - how are you here FOR me?
- listen to what is shared
WONDER QUESTIONS:
- Are you willing to embrace the journey as it
presents itself to you?
- How can you engage as a creative force when
'detours happen"?
- Are you open to gifts of discovery when life goes
in an unforeseen direction?
QUICK LINKS:
COPYRIGHT/CONTACT INFO/REPRINT PERMISSION
Copyright 2005 by Leslie Karen Sann, Living by Design
Visit this link for contact information:
leslie@living-bydesign.com
Reprint permission granted in part or whole when the following credit appears in full:
Copyright 2005 by Leslie Karen Sann,
Living by Design.All rights reserved.
Web site. http://www.living-bydesign.com
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