Changes

        "Changes are so common we seldom think about them. We have the change of day to night, the seasons, shades of light and dark throughout each day, and temperature highs and lows. It is only when there is an extreme that we become truly conscious of how many changes there are. We know if it rains too much, or not enough, if there is a storm, if the winds blow hard - all kinds of changes in nature that affect us daily and in some cases, affects our livelihood.

        We are, perhaps, more aware of the changes of the body and the mind. And many times we deliberately make changes in ourselves as a way to be different, or to experience a difference. We change partners or homes or locations. We sometimes change our way of thinking, and our way of being. This kind of change does not come easily. It requires a shift, a turning or moving away from a previously held position. Some can see both sides of a situation and balance the two, so the change is not so necessary. These people seem rare. They are sometimes placed in positions of authority and judgement.

        Changes in ways of living are difficult. If we move to a different culture or a different language, the adjustment is more profound. Some can make the transition fairly easy, and some are never comfortable outside their own frame of reference.

        What do you do when things change around you? How do you handle the things in nature that cannot be controlled? It is a balancing act, a centering of self. One must have a solid foundation of thought and belief so that change cannot rock or split that frame. Change is good, and yet, like so many things, too much is not so good. It leaves no room for the foundation to 'settle'. In the middle of huge changes, one must find within a centering device, a balance point, a steadying of the mind, body and soul. It is a focus on within and yet cannot be directed too profusely within for then the separation from reality becomes a problem.

        What is your source of comfort during change? Does it have to be the same? Do you use different methods for small changes versus large changes? There must be, in some measure, a strength of purpose involved. It may be a strength that is needed to survive, or to progress, or to maintain sanity in the midst of confusion. It is a challenge that is wise to look at, for in emergencies there is little time to decide on a pattern. The strength and the balance should be there and as the strength manifests itself, the aspect of change does not become such an overwhelming obstacle.

        Change."