Change, The only Constant In Life

The only thing that will never change in life is the fact things will continually change.

Change will always be a constant in your life. From childhood to adulthood, the world around you will be in a perpetual state of transformation, just like your world.

As you move through your life, you will begin to create familiar routines that bring comfort and stability. This tends to feel good, and sometimes so good you never want it to change.

But as the years pass, you realize that change will become a force you cannot escape.

Think about it: you start preschool, then you move to elementary, junior high, and finally high school.

Pause for a moment and think about all the changes you went through every year in the first eighteen years of your life. Some of the changes, like being able to drive, cannot come fast enough, yet others you want to last a lifetime.

Change has been a constant in your life, and you probably didn't even notice it because it happens so much. 

Over time, you will realize that change will bring not only adversity but also opportunities to learn and grow.

Yet when change occurs, it seems to catch you off guard because you are so focused on what you are doing, and in such a comfortable and safe space like the one I mentioned earlier, the thought of change is nowhere on your radar.

When it happens, you are so fearful of what's next because you have forgotten how many times you've overcome change in the past and come out the other end better off than before.

Why do you think that is?

I'll tell you, it's the fear of the unknown which is always a constant companion of change, and those life changes are usually accompanied by adversity because you know difficulties lay ahead.

Whether you like it or not, our bodies are hardwired to keep us safe, and change can be scary.

Most of the time, you do not have a chance to prepare for the adversity you will face; it comes fast and unannounced. My grandfather told me when I was young that "life gives you the test first and the lesson after."

With that in mind, one way I like to look at it is this change is happening for me, not to me. And when you face change, the only thing you have control over is how you react to that change.

I understand that fear can be polarizing and cause you to question yourself and your abilities. If you are not careful, this is where your self-doubt and uncertainty can overwhelm you, causing you to wallow in your pity party.

However, remember that this unknown you are going through is where your personal strength and growth happen.

I want to share my adversity with you; today is November 1st, 2023, and yesterday afternoon, a company-wide email was sent saying there would be mass layoffs.

First thing this morning, I was notified I was part of that reduction in force, and my job was eliminated.

As you can imagine, I was saddened to hear the news, but I was also not naive to the possibility of being affected.

About a half hour before I received the call, I posted the following quote to my ZUP2U stories:  "Adversity in life brings the fear of the unknown. The unknown is where strength and growth occur."

I've learned that when confronted with adversity, the only thing you have control over is how you react.

So, I'm embracing the fear of the unknown and facing it head-on, knowing whatever comes next, I will be ready and know I will be better off in the long run.

See, as the years have passed, I've reflected on my journey and realized adversity has always been a part of my journey, a stepping stone towards my success.

Each obstacle I overcame only strengthened my resolve.

The changes that had initially filled me with fear and doubt have become the building blocks of my character. I've learned that change was happening for me, not to me. It was my teacher, a mentor, and a guide on my path to self-discovery.

We all live in a world where uncertainty looms; I've learned that the best thing to do is to embrace the fear of the unknown and face it head-on.

I understand and embrace change as the only constant in life, which is meant to make me stronger, wiser, and more resilient.

My journey has taught me that the key to thriving amidst adversity is not to resist change but to embrace it, to grow with it, and to evolve alongside it.

After reading this, I hope you look at change differently when you encounter it, and you will sooner than you realize.

As always, thank you for your time.

Best,
Paul
ZUP2U