The Art of Change - Resistance Is Futile!
by Camille Strate
Why in the world do we resist change so hard? Why is it that the moment we’re faced with change we get so pessimistic? Why do we think that change will always equal disaster? It’s such an odd thing to me that we do this (and believe me, I’m just as guilty sometimes!). When faced with any kind of change, whether it be a new landlord or a new job or the first wrinkle on your face, we go into a tizzy and start hyper-ventilating like we’re about to be strung up on a rack. It’s so….silly?
I got to thinking about this the other day when I was told that the property I rent is on the market. Apparently, the current owners have decided they’d rather take a loss than hold on to their many properties, in lieu of some other new adventure. My breathing immediately became shallow. I could feel the sweat on my hands and that icky tickle in my belly. OH NO! WHAT NOW? My first and instant response was that this could NOT be good. Why? Why did I immediately go there? Why did I automatically assume that a new land owner would make my life difficult? How could I know this? Why didn’t I, instead, think to myself, "well, this could be a grand adventure. This could be just what the doctor ordered. This could be terrific!" Nope. Went in the opposite direction of those thoughts and I did it in a blink. SHEESH!
After I regained my balance, I got to thinking about the way I USED TO look at change. When I was a kid and I found out something new was about to happen, I’d get all excited. I would have a million ’super-cool’ possibilities run through my little head, like I’d just found a magic lamp and the genie was about to pop out and grant wishes. I was the most optimistic little Being you’d ever meet. So what happened? How did I go from that creature to this one? How did I lose that optimistic perception of the world? When did I decide that change meant ‘BAD’?
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