Change.

It’s one of those words that we love to hate!

If you are to ask someone whether they like, or do not like change, they will inevitably respond with either a yes or no answer.

Then, in response to that, we will tend to stereotype them based on what we think their answer means in relation to their character. For example we will assume that if one likes change, they must be a spontaneous outgoing person while those who dislike it are introverted, boring or even rigid.

Upon further reflection however, I have come to believe that these perceptions are completely invalid and there isn’t actually anyone who can claim to either like or dislike change because we are all the same!

What do I mean?

Well, being the fickle human beings that we all are, we find it hard to stay consistent. We may claim to hate change because we do not like surprises, yet if change suits our current needs, we may not be so opposed to the idea after all…

For example, if you were due to get married at the weekend and all week prior to your chosen date it had been pouring it down with rain, you would inevitably be preparing yourself for a wet day and would put the necessary provisions in place, ie. umbrellas! But then, say on the day you are due to walk down the aisle, the sun suddenly bursts out and the sky is blue – you are not going to be complaining! You are not going to be sad that you will not be needing to use those umbrellas anymore! You are going to be rejoicing in the change, embracing in the spontaneity of the moment and frantically pushing your previous worries that you were going to have miserable grey wedding pictures to the side!

Equally, if you are watching the world cup final and your team is loosing with one minute to go, but all of a sudden (remember you do NOT like change) your team scores and you end up winning, you will decide, right in that moment, that change is a good thing indeed.

I know that both of these examples were rather trivial but they illustrate the point that sometimes when we claim to hate change, we can actually go right back on what we said depending on whether the circumstances of that change suits our needs or desires at that particular moment in time.

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The irony of this whole thing is that humans thrive on change! How else would we have become so successful in developing and conquering and leading over the course of history were it not for changing circumstances? The human race is ever evolving and, if we were to never experience change, we would never progress.

It is thought that the appendix was once a vital digestive organ used back in the caveman days to digest animal hair and bones, (as that would have been part of the human diet at the time). But now it is commonly removed and deemed not essential to life. Isn’t this evidence that although times and circumstances change, people adapt and continue to thrive?!

It is important to note however, that too much change may also not be a good thing … but then we enter into the wonderful world of BALANCE! (which is not so wonderful after all because it’s so hard to achieve!), and that is a whole other debate in itself!

So maybe next time you encounter a change, no matter how big or small, or how scary or inconsequential it may seem, try and remember that it is not the change itself you are scared of, but how you will react that matters. The world is your oyster so stop restricting yourself by placing barriers on what you can and cannot cope with! Take each moment as it comes and deal with the situation as best as you can (: