The Paradox of Change
Photo: Ross Findon @rossfRapid transformation is happening all around us as we speak. Old systems and societal structures are buckling beneath the weight of centuries, old perspectives and beliefs are rotting, and old models about the way things are and ought to be are dissolving before our very eyes.
“Change is the only constant.” I know, I know – what a tired cliché! What a trite platitude! And yes, it’s also painfully obvious to anyone who takes a moment to think about it. Change is the only constant. Of course, it is! But then, it’s precisely this kind of self-evident truth that is so easily overlooked. We tend to see right through it, like fish looking through water. Since impermanence is the default state and an ever present reality, it blends into the background and we forget all about it. So it bears reminding: nothing stands still. Nothing - not even furniture, not even rocks - is lifeless. Everything is dynamic, animated by the energy that courses through it. Everything is in a state of flux, undulating between formation and dissolution, construction and demolition.
And this includes ourselves, too.
It was the pre-Socratic philosopher Heraclitus who famously said, “No one steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and they’re not the same person.”
An astute observation for a man without access to high-powered microscopes or intimate knowledge of modern chemistry. I mean, I can understand how Heraclitus saw impermanence in the river, sure – but in ourselves? That’s a bigger leap to make. Because we can witness the river flowing in real-time and see that it is never still, but we cannot, as a rule, see the elements of our own being flowing. On a day-to-day basis, it can be hard to tell that we too are in a state of flux, of growing and withering. Yet that is precisely what we are. What you are. What I am. Not a human being but a human becoming. From womb to tomb and beyond, we are constantly transforming into something new.
By overlooking this ever-present fact, we tend to become the victims rather than the architects of our transformation. Without active involvement, the transformational process takes on a life of its own. Change occurs haphazardly, randomly, without rhyme or reason. The pacing is all wrong! We might experience long periods of feeling stuck, stifled, desperately longing for change. And then suddenly, without warning, change bursts forth, but it is a wild and unpredictable sort, a tidal wave of unwanted change that leaves us feeling lost, confused, and frightened.
Throughout all of this, we are still in a state of becoming - but we have no way to predict what we will become, or when, or whether we will like the result or not. That’s the dilemma as I see it, the question at the heart of this worn-out platitude.
If change is the only constant, what can we do about it? How can we navigate change intelligently and become the engineers of our own transformation rather than unwitting victims? That’s not a rhetorical question, my friends, nor is it the setup to some profoundly brilliant philosophical punchline. It’s an honest question, and a mighty important one given the current state of the world.
Rapid transformation is happening all around us as we speak. Old systems and societal structures are buckling beneath the weight of centuries, old perspectives and beliefs are rotting, and old models about the way things are and ought to be are dissolving before our very eyes. One by one, our illusions are crumbling to dust and giving way to exciting new possibilities. We are realizing, slowly but surely, that no one is coming to save us. There is no miracle cure, no magic pill, no hero coming to our rescue. No one can tell us what to do next. It is and always has been up to us to decide for ourselves.
This might be scary at first, but give it time to sink it. Sit with it a while and you may come to see that it is actually an incredibly empowering revelation. So then: how can we navigate change and use it as a tool for growth and self-betterment? How can we leverage obstacles and adversity to our advantage? How can we contribute to the much-needed transformation of this dying world into something beautiful, vibrant, and equitable for all? These questions are of the utmost importance. And by extension, individuals and organizations that promote and facilitate the important discussions that follow from these questions should be celebrated. They are providing an essential service to the rest of us.
That’s why I feel so blessed to have discovered the NVRLND Tribe and to have been accepted into their midst with open arms. For years I searched for a community that embraces change and travels freely on the path of spiritual exploration. After talking with NVRLND Tribe founder Anthony Reese Schneider about his vision and attending The Service on Sunday, I can say with confidence that this is the community I was seeking all along. Guided by curiosity, compassion, and a desire to transform themselves and the world for the better, this community is open to all. No idea is taboo, no topic off-limits. Individuals are invited to be themselves, to express themselves authentically, to practice vulnerability, to support each other, and to lift each other to new heights. It’s a beautiful thing to behold!
I am deeply honored to serve this community by doing what I love most: writing. I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember and I never tire of it. It isn’t always easy (like all art, it can be torturous!) but it is always deeply rewarding in the end. And when I get to write about the topics that excite me and help me live my best life – you know, philosophy, psychology, spirituality, and the like – it’s the icing on the cake. So thank you for the cake and the icing, my friends, and for giving me an opportunity to pursue my mission on a new platform.
Until next week’s installment, live well, my friends.
