Comfortable with Change
“Nothing endures but change.”
Heraclitus, from Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers
Greek philosopher (540 BC – 480 BC)
You’ve probably heard this sentiment voiced in numerous different ways, by many authors, and applied to a variety of situations. It seems that today there is an opportunity for me to add my musings to this subject.
In preparing to travel for almost two weeks, I find it useful to list the activities necessary to a successful trip. There are arrangements for pets, plants, and postal deliveries. Resetting of scheduled meetings, events, and activities occurs. Places to stay while traveling are located, and transportation is put together. These activities may not occur in the same sequence for each trip I make, yet some semblance of each is common to the theme of traveling.
One activity to schedule around the trip is the regular posting of these articles. A perusal of the blog software shows where a message can be posted in advance of publication. The feature allows me to write a post in advance and leave it to be published while I travel. Excellent! So I determine to experiment with this feature.
In enthusiasm, earlier in the week, I write a piece to post in the category of ‘Natural Beauty.’ There is such enthusiasm, that I get ahead of myself, and write the article with the intent to add at least one photographic image to it. It seems like a next step to add pictures to the words.
Yet, as Heraclitus says, change endures. In attempting to add the photographic image to the post, I discover aspects of the blogging software that I have yet to master. After winding my way deep into the FAQ questions and answers about the software, I look up to discover that the period for writing is drawing to an end, and I’m no closer to uploading an image as I was at the start. It is apparent something gets to change.
I find myself looking at the intention of the exercise, which is to communicate regularly in this forum. Here is where the ability to accept change, allow a different outcome, and focus on the ultimate intent is valuable. Flowing with change becomes a matter of shifting my attention away from one article, and placing it on an article for Now. I feel fortunate to have tools for shifting attention, energy, and focus, so it is now possible to create an article for the next post.
As I finish writing the previous paragraph, the telephone rings. There is a brief moment of choice ~ continue to write? Answer the phone? And because there is flow and possibility of change, I can get up and speak on the telephone. In the course of the conversation, an idea for another article presents itself. I enjoy my phone conversation, jot a brief note, and return to complete this post.
The key to playing in a world where change is the constant is a three-fold ability to keep an eye on intention, to keep attention on being flexible in allowing the intention to unfold, and to make conscious choices among the possible actions that support the unfolding. Being comfortable with change helps me to align with this process with fluidity, grace, and ease.