Change. Its Inevitable.

I've recently had a lot of interactions with change. Its been a constant at this time of my life, adding to the unparalleled uncertainty Ive experienced. The insights I have (I think I have..) gained in observing others respond and work through making changes in their own lives has led me to write this post.

Change and I are good ol' friends. I've got to say, I have a lot of appreciation for that. It has fostered a lot of independence, reduced my fear for the unknown and enabled me to make decisions I otherwise wouldn't have made. Change has been an ongoing theme in my life, whether it was voluntary or not and it's allowed me to welcome transitional phases with an open heart and mind.

What I didn't realize was how many people fear, or don't positively resonate with life's undulations that represent "change". For me, the loss of a parent at a young age certainly catapulted my ability to diversify best laid plans in life - real quick. Packing up your belongings and not knowing where, or who, you will live with at the age of 15 sure changed me and my perspectives swiftly. Shifting houses, moving countries to chase my dreams of being a physician, switching healthcare teams every 6 weeks (therefore friends, cities and hospitals) during medical school - I have had to figure it out. Change was going to happen and I had choices in my approach. Making decisions based on the assumption that we *generally* can't count on anything long-term, has lessened the fear and dissonance change can and will bring to my life.

I welcome it.

Spending time thinking about this and further, analyzing the reasons behind others fears, has led me to a couple of conclusions:

1. Like a lot of things in life - if you aren't exposed (often from a young age) chances are your fears or perceived barriers to change come from a desire to not rock the boat. "Leave things as they are" is a lot easier and less emotional.

2. Change is HARD. It brings on new states of 'normal' and adaptations that certainly aren't always easy. Generally, in life we like to do things that are easier rather than more difficult - especially if the outcome is unknown. Common sense.

3. Its easier when other people change (be it their perspectives, actions or position) in order to allow those of us preferring stability to avoid just that (or less adjustments , should we say).

4. No matter how you feel, or approach change - its going to happen and its unavoidable. What matters is your openness to modify what you know as familiar.

I'm no expert on change or how to handle it. Just because I have had an inordinate level of it in my life doesn't mean the constant adaptations equal ease. But, I do really love the ongoing growth I gain from moving fluidly from one challenge, one phase, to the next. Is it easy? Ofcourse it isn't. But anything worth doing and working on in life isn't easy and its up to you to choose - build a wall or move like a windmill.