We are ending a gorgeous fall color riot in the northeast. It changes by the day; leaves falling in gobs soon to decay. In my lifetime, I can trust that spring will return with its blaze of color, beauty, and rebirth. The life-cycle described by the Buddha: birth, aging, decay and death.
The stress and distress I am experiencing surprised me as our election looms in the U.S. implying change in a myriad of ways, both pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral. The following passage moved me deeply, spurring me to continue my discussion of change and impermanence. It’s an anonymous writing from recovery literature.
“Transitions and changes are often painful, sometimes frightening. . . When we become so committed to stability that we cannot flow with the never-ending river of life, we wither and die spiritually. Every one of us changes moving within our lives. Some changes (are) beneath the surface . . . others are obvious. When we see change only as a problem or as pain, we have a harder time getting on with our lives.
Looking back, we see changes we would never have chosen or planned for … we can see that we grew with some of them . . . growing into new realms, and we found sides of ourselves we hadn’t known before.”
– Heraclitus, Greek philosopher, 6thc BCE
Attached to the above was a quote from the Greek philosopher Heraclitus (6thc BCE), whose main work was on nature, who believed that strife is both a driving and unifying force in life, forcing it to find balance, and that life is an ongoing process governed by the law of change.
“Where there is no strife there is decay. The mixture which is not shaken decomposes.”
– Heraclitus, Greek philosopher, 6thc BCE
Let’s mindfully practice some conscious breathing and stillness this week with a lighter touch, more self-compassion, with hope that we can ride the waves of change with confidence, ease, and grace. Learning to surf and stay up for as long as needed can have its pleasant rewards.
Today’s Prescription
Notice if/how changes may be happening in your life or in the world around you.
We are all experiencing some form of change right now.
Practice meditation for just 3 to 9 to 18 minutes a day.
Please share the results with me.