Change happens to everyone and everything.
It is the one ironic constant in the universe.
Everything changes.
How do you react to it? Do you fear it? Dread it? Loathe it? Embrace it? Anticipate it? Hope for it? People almost always hate change.
It is the unknown.
Unknown means pain for most people.
That's why they dread it.
But the unknown is opportunity embodied.
Most change is neither good nor bad.
It is how you REACT to it that gives it meaning.
You interpret events all the time.
Change is simply an event that can be turned to your advantage or disadvantage.
Think about some of the biggest changes in your life.
Early in your life they are often centered on what you get to do.
You learn to walk and talk.
You have your first day of school.
You make new friends.
You may change classes or schools.
Now you have to make more new friends while missing the old ones.
Eventually you graduate.
You may go to college.
You get your first "real" job.
You might change jobs several times before you find a career.
You get married and have children.
All of these changes are incredibly massive in scope! They are literally life changing events, and yet for the most part we look forward to these, because they are exciting and new.
We may be a little afraid for some of these things (marriage and children for example), but they are considered great milestones and achievements.
After this point many people begin to dread change more and more.
They get comfortable and established.
They may like the job they have and where they live.
The kids are finally in school all day and there's the possibility of that promotion.
We don't want to rock the boat at this point.
It could be dangerous.
We fear what could go wrong instead of looking for new ways to expand and grow.
When the boat is rocked, what happens? Well, it depends on what rocked the boat and how someone reacts.
For instance, when someone gets fired, it is a huge stress factor in their lives because bills still have to be paid.
But what if you hated your job anyway? Isn't getting out of that situation a good thing? I know it was for me when I was fired once.
My health and attitude improved almost immediately.
I took that as an opportunity to grow and move on.
Not all changes can be framed as positive at first.
Some are so heart wrenching that the event itself can never be a good thing.
If you lose your spouse or a child, I would never tell you that it can be a good thing if you will only interpret it that way.
You CAN however find that something good can come of it.
How you respond may make you stronger.
It may make you more attuned to the needs of others.
It may cause you to look for ways to serve and help others.
The most important thing to remember is that our reaction to change largely defines how we perceive it.