Commentary by Paula Presnoples
Imagine your first day of life, unable to do anything for yourself, eyes not focusing, maybe not even open. You are unable to communicate or make your needs known; completely helpless, depending on others for your every need.
Now fast forward to today and imagine that you never changed since the day of your birth, still dependent upon others for your very survival. Life without change is not a very pretty picture, is it?
Why are we are so afraid of change? There was a time when we embraced change. Think about a toddler who learns something new with squeals of delight, almost impossible to contain the joy and energy of discovery. When was the last time you felt that excited about change?
Our socialization process teaches that excitement out of us at an early age. We learn: humans resist change, people don’t like change and the older you get the more you are set in your ways. However some people escape the programming. They embrace change and you can, too.
Humans are the only creatures on earth that can choose to make a change and then set out to do it. After all, don’t we make a ritual every New Year of making a list of things we want to change? New Year’s resolutions, when we take it seriously, change lives. We all know someone who decided to quit smoking and did or began a serious fitness program with outstanding results.
Without change we would all be helpless, but since we are human, we can choose to embrace change. Whether change is our choice or it is thrust upon us, it is within our DNA to be able to grab change with both hands and enjoy what comes. We, alone, can choose to be resistant (and most often miserable) or enjoy the excitement of the discovery as the future unfolds.
