by LuAnne Steininger
Change & Choice
To everything there is a season and we have entered a new season in nature's cycle. The days are shorter, the nights cooler, the leaves are off the trees and plants and animals have gone into hibernation. Change is everywhere in nature. We seldom doubt if the lilacs will bloom, whether the moth will turn into a butterfly or if the hummingbirds will migrate south in winter. These changes are effortless, predictable and inevitable. Nature is harmonious in its rhythms.
We humans are part of the natural cycle of life. Spring may be a time of beginning new projects, summer is the season of activity, fall is the time to harvest our hard work and winter is the time of rest, renewal and introspection. We begin life as a “spring chicken”, we actively grow and learn, and then we reap the harvest of our wisdom and age gracefully. Well, that's the ideal plan. What happens if we resist the natural cycle of change?
Often we become stressed or sick when our lives are out of balance. If we know that change is inevitable, then why do we sometimes find ourselves resisting, struggling, and being sad, depressed or angry? Well, predictably, it's a conversation in our head that creates the emotion. Here are some examples of internal conversations and unintentional consequences that can keep us out of balance:
- Why me? (saps personal responsibility)
- It wasn't my fault (places blame)
- I should be able to do that. (sets unrealistic expectations)
- He was too young to die. (argues with something that is out of our control)
- I don't understand…I don't know why that happened…I'm clueless. (avoids being truthful with oneself and ignores intuition)
- I'll never be able to. (promotes self defeating talk)
So, now we are at choice, the other great “C” word. In this approaching season of rest, renewal and introspection, are we going to chose struggle and stress, or balance and harmony? Honoring the inner rhythms of our nature activates inner wisdom.
We can take personal responsibility, become gentle with ourselves, accept the things we cannot change, listen to our intuition and live more balanced, healthy lives.
Here is a quote from King Whitney, Jr., that summarizes these thoughts. “Change has considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better. Obviously, then, one's character and frame of mind determine how readily they bring about change and how they may react to change that is imposed.”
Now, here's the good news. Yes, things will change. Babies will be born, children leave home, jobs will come and go, friends move, our bodies age, and along the path we make choices. The seasons of our lives will ebb and flow. Times may be uncertain, we may temporarily become worried, fearful or vulnerable. Every time change happens, we are changed. We experience an internal shift and hopefully see the bigger picture. Just as nature maintains balance, we too strive to maintain personal balance. Imagine a world where we each live in greater harmony with ourselves, with each other and the earth. Make those wise, healthy and loving choices, today.
“Be the change you want to see in the world” Ghandi
LuAnne Steininger, B.S., is the Wellness Coordinator at the Sanford Center for Aging, University of Nevada, Reno. She has worked with people ages 50+ for 20 years and has taught fitness for 30 years. She is also on the leading edge of the boomer generation.