Change

Change: make or become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence

This is a definition I found of the word "change". I read it and it made me think. Maybe people are so afraid of change because they don't fully understand what it means to "change". Honestly, I'm not even sure that I completely understand this definition. It seems a little contradictory. How do you make something different but still maintain the original characteristics and essence of the initial being? I guess it means...for example.....if you have an egg, and you drop it from the balcony of a two-story building....and it shatters. It's still an egg, right? All of it's characteristics are still there....the shell is there, the yolk is there....and the egg white is there. But it's different from it's original form. It's changed. I try to fit that into everyday life but it doesn't make quite as much sense. There are so many different kinds of changes. There are welcomed changes and unwelcome changes. Easy ones...not so easy ones. Avoidable...unavoidable. There are even sneaky ones....ones that happen and you don't even know it. All change is scary. Even the ones that you welcome. I think of so many different things when I think of change. However, the first thing that comes to mind is a feeling of being afraid. Afraid of the unknown. Weird though....b/c I love new and exciting things. But I'm still not comfortable being outside my comfort zone.

Comfort: - a feeling of freedom from worry or disappointment

Do you think we are afraid of change b/c we are worried about being disappointed? If we never change...we will never be disappointed. We always know what to expect....making us able to prepare for what we already know. We base our expectations off of what we already know to be truth. Not knowing and understanding what is outside of our bubbles....prevents us from growing....protects us from change....and ultimately lowers our chances of becoming disappointed in ourselves and those around us. We find comfort in living with our disappointments....settling with them...because we are afraid that there may be another disappointment lurking around every corner that might in fact be worse than the one we are comfortable with now. I want to stop being comfortable with certainty and start being comfortable with change. One last thing I want to talk about...............one of my favorite words....and an unbelievably hard concept to grasp.....understanding.

Understanding: a reconciliation of differences

Sometimes....I am full of understanding. I'm able to step back, assess the situation, realize the differences and then understand all sides with a certain amount of reasoning. Other times, however, I can't even understand myself....much less that of what's going on around me. And that, my friend, is what makes understanding such a hard thing to do. I know the importance of understanding. I catch myself often......jumping ahead....thinking too fast....moving too fast in general, without stepping back and trying understand what is going on. Trying to understand a feeling, a person, an action, a view or anything that is different from you are use to....is difficult. It's difficult to not immediately go with your initial reaction. I can assure you though that when you take the time to understand what is going on and reasons behind actions....not only do you prevent hurt but you gain knowledge.

Understanding is knowing......being open to the idea of change.....and finding comfort in it.