Celebrate Change

“Nothing endures but change.”
- Heraclitus

We live in a world and Universe absolutely electrified with change! Yet it’s often difficult for us to appreciate how these changes are impacting us and those around us. In the midst of vast and often disturbing currents of apparent chaos, we try to connect our prior self and future self into a coherent and meaningful story, but our success at weaving a winning narrative can often vary with the weather.

In the midst of the inherent changes of life, we have also introduced a wave of tech-driven change that is truly unprecedented. So, as the pace of change enters ludicrous mode in the 2020s, here are some basic ways to take charge of change rather than being swept away by it.

1). Measure Anew
The pace of change that has been building over the last few decades is now reaching a crescendo. In order to successfully navigate these changes, the first step is to keep a clear view of what is actually happening. George Bernard Shaw famously remarked, “The only man who behaved sensibly was my tailor: he took my measure anew every time he saw me, whilst all the rest went on with their old measurements and expected them to fit me.”

Keep a daily watch on how trends and technology are impacting your life and those around you. What worked last quarter will likely need updating this quarter! Measure anew to stay accurate and informed - both in your own life, and in the broader currents around you. At the same time, appreciate and adapt to the changes of those around you.

2). Renew, Again, and Again
In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul encouraged the church in Rome to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Regardless of your religious background, this aspect of renewal and testing is not just a spiritual exercise, but a practical strategy for handling the complexities that are sweeping towards us like never before. An attitude of testing allows room for mistakes and feedback, and frees you from sticking to a rigid script of how things “ought to be” that likely will be outdated before you know it.

3). Keep Calm, Carry On
The social media cycle now brings us a multitude of outrages, not by the day, but literally by the hour. But doom scrolling is like trying paddle back up Niagara Falls - you will not be able to keep pace with all of the world’s issues, not even for a single day. The solution is not to give up and float downstream, nor is it to worry yourself into a drowned state of exhaustion. Instead, pull yourself to shore and calmly observe the changes for what they are. Stoic philosopher and ruler Marcus Aurelius offered this advice - “The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are.”


Conclusion
Mastering change has been a timeless theme of human life. Now, as we unleash an avalanche of new technology, it is perhaps the most critical skill for success. Your goal should be to not only master change, but to Celebrate Change with clear-eyed and accurate assessment, an ever adaptable mindset and a calm spirit.