As I sit here writing this, I look out my window on this beautiful October day observing the leaves in their different transitional stages… from the vivid greens of summer to the burst of reds, oranges, browns and yellows of fall. I contemplate how the change in seasons gives us the gift of transition and acknowledge with deep gratitude the beauty transition brings.
I am overwhelmed with gratitude when I think of the changes and transitions in my life that have brought me to this present moment. All of us experience change, as individuals, as groups, organizations, cities, states, countries, and our world. Scientists have discovered that even our Universe is in a constant state of change as it continues to expand. Change is the nature of life and continues within us and all around us. So why then, do we so often become trapped in resisting it?
While change brings transition into something new, it can also imply pain, struggle, and fear. In the words of the popular Looney Toons cartoon character Daffy Duck, “I can’t stand pain, it hurts me.” We don’t like pain. We don’t like struggle. We don’t like fear. Even if we see change as positive, we can resist it because we doubt our own abilities to handle the unknowns that lie ahead. Change can imply the breakup of the world and our identity as we understand it to be and can generate a sense of grief and loss. If we say goodbye to what we know, do we have what it takes to embrace the new?
In his book “A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose,” Eckhart Tolle speaks of three ways in which Consciousness can flow into what you do, allowing you to be in the present moment: acceptance, enjoyment, and enthusiasm. He states, “If you are not in a state of acceptance, enjoyment or enthusiasm, look closely and you will find that you are creating suffering for yourself and others.”
Through acceptance, enjoyment and enthusiasm, we have what it takes to move through change and transition to the new. I invite you to reflect on different aspects of your life… your own self, your relationships, your community, your work, your finances, and ask yourself:
- What do acceptance, enjoyment and enthusiasm mean to me?
- Am I in acceptance, enjoyment, or enthusiasm in different aspects of my life?
Next month, I’ll discuss acceptance, enjoyment and enthusiasm in more detail and suggest ways they can help you navigate through change.
With Love, Light, and Gratitude,
Sandy
