Just when you think you have found peace, and things seem settled for the time being, it never fails….. change happens. And right now, since the beginning of the retrograde that started last week, change has been very big in our lives, both at home and at work. That’s the reason it’s been quiet on the writing front. At work, we are heading into one of the busiest times of the year, and at home, well, changes there are even bigger.
Change is often stressful, not because of the change itself, but because of how we feel about it, how settled our egos are in the comfort zone of what we are used to. When we feel comfortable, we don’t want to change the comfort zone of where we are, so we fight the changes that are coming which creates the stress that we don’t want to deal with making things worse for ourselves through the process.
In The Warrior’s Den, we all like water sports: surfing (body, board, or boogie boarding), swimming, canoe or kayaking. And water sports are a beautiful analogy for change. On the surface of the water things may seem calm and peaceful, we are in our comfort zone. Underneath the surface of the water, however, currents that we cannot see are shifting and moving us in ways we are not always aware of. If we find ourselves sleeping on the surface where it’s peaceful, and we aren’t paying attention, we may wake up and find ourselves in a situation we had no idea was coming. But if we maintain a calm watchfulness, we can see the changes coming and prepare ourselves for whatever lies ahead.
In surfing, kayaking, etc , you have to be aware of more than just the waves that you see. You have to be aware of the deeper currents underneath as well. When you can feel the currents driving the surface conditions in the water, you have the opportunity to ride a phenomenal wave for as long as the ride will last. Change is exactly like this. It’s never just about what you see or wake up to. It’s also about the lasting impact and where the ride will take you. Any surfer or kayaker will tell you, riding the waves isn’t about the destination, it’s about the ride. Change is the same way. Things will always settle down for a time when the change has completed. The process and what we learn along the way is the real ride. We can either be afraid of it and run the risk of it destroying us, or we can learn to enjoy the ride. It’s your choice.
Blessed Be.
The Warriors Den 