A Change Is Going To Come

Life is a series of beginnings and ends. We all know only two of these points are absolute in our existence, and one has already been accomplished: we are born into our first beginning, and we must die in an act of finality. Most people experience a lot of life between these two certitudes, and their lives are often defined by these inceptions and cessations. Some of the starts and stops in our lives are natural and due to normal maturation while others are made of our own free will.

"Strange how certain the journey. Time unfolds the petals for our eyes to see. Strange how this journey is hurting in ways we accept as part of fate's decree." Vienna Teng, "Eric's Song"

An irony of our day is that we have created a world system which we now treat as if it had a will of its own, a Frankenstein monster threatening to destroy its creator. This monster is created from our own ideological, economic and military systems, the material aspects of our alienation from reality. We acknowledge this fateful will, and, in turn, choose to live in the grips of perceived fears. How many of our fears are fears of changes? Many endings and new beginnings seem to cause considerable upheaval in our lives. We have been conditioned to fear change that we, ourselves, have often initiated. Of course, a certain amount of fear is inherent in change. The fear of the unknown causes stress and even panic. As uncertainty takes a prominent role in our decisions, we tend to resist anything remotely foreign to our background. We may feel that change will allow us to be exploited. Often, fear causes us to walk away from change that threatens our old system of values and beliefs. In addition, the changes we consider are often met with stiff resistance by those around us. Feeling such resistance, we must muscle more energy to achieve the desired change. Finding it difficult to defeat mass disapproval or mass skepticism, we often choose the path of least resistance and remain fixed in a comfort zone of "strength in numbers." Also, we may falsely think we need to confront the actual fear of change, which we may view as a normal human emotion that must be overcome. This fear may be a result of some natural trauma experienced in our prior life. The fear of change may be resistant to being "overcome" and the process may re-traumatize us and enhance our experience of fear. Nick Arrizza, MD, believes that as long as we believe that we are our personality and our life experience, we cannot hope to change. He believes his Mind Resonance Process can actually uninstall old memories, and restore our mind/body/unconscious to its original pristine state. Arrizza contends that the lack of desire for some form of change is actually associated with a sense of inner certainty that reflects the essence of an individual. He believes our "self" has remained submerged beneath what we "thought" or were "brainwashed" into thinking was us, i.e. our personality, and Arrizza believes we can be taught to shed our "false self" the way a snake sheds its skin. True lack of desire, however, cannot be changed, only suppressed for a while as it reflects the core or essence of an individual. "Many have tried to suppress it through unethical repressive means. Ultimately however it will always remain firmly anchored at the heart of the individual as a representation of their inner truth, so to speak," says Arrizza. Thus, many of us who will never change possess a lack of desire, not a fear of change. Kumbi Korostenski thinks that we must reclaim our inborn powers. When a new change comes our way, we must tell ourselves what it is that we're afraid of and look at the fear to develop a new sense of freedom and inner security. Kumbi cites two interesting facts about change:

Fact 1. : People who are passionate about growing are never afraid of a change. To them change is simply another way of taking charge and living fully.

Irrelevant of their positions in life, they know that it is of utmost importance to keep an open mind and be alert in spirit. For nothing in life ever stays the same Fact 2. You can't wish a change away. Your life would become more engaging and bountiful, when you can let go of your fear.

Others have suggested we consider the worst case scenario that can result from change, meditate on how much we would lose if the worst happens, and if we can find more than one reasonable solution, we are safe because the change cannot be stronger than us. Still others contend we should picture somebody else in our shoes in the face of change. If we realize the other person can handle the change, we can be sure we will be able to handle it as well. And finally, some believe that we must accept change as a challenge in life. We must laugh our hearts out and pass on our joys to others. In fact, a heart full to the brim with joy and enthusiasm has no space for fear and uneasiness. Whatever the method used, we should not allow our fears of new beginnings and new ends in life to dominate us. To accept all of these changes as fate, however, smacks of non participation in life-altering opportunities. We can control a significant portion of our world if we learn to make choices actively and to process change in a rational manner.

The Greatest Adventure

The greatest adventure is what lies ahead Today and tomorrow are yet to be said The chances, the changes, are all yours to make The mold of your life is in your hands to break.

The greatest adventure is there if you're bold. Let go of the moment that life makes you hold. To measure the meaning can you make delay It's time you stopped thinking and wasting the day.

A man who's a dreamer and never takes leave Who thinks of a world that's just make-believe Will never know passion, will never know pain Who sits by the window will one day see rain.

- Glen Yarborough