“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is a familiar phrase that shows little respect for “old dogs”. To counter this, others have said, “The only thing that is constant is change”. As a more positive note regarding change, it preaches a faith that all of the universe is in a constant flux. It makes no comment on the issue that humans sometimes refuse to change.
Everything changes. Can you think of anything that does not? Some of you might say your husband, wife, or your mother-in-law will never change. However, if you observe carefully and keep your prejudices out of the way, some level of change is always noticeable somewhere and at some time. Certainly, the final change, if no other is forthcoming, is death.
When people are full of emotion, as is often the case with my clients, they have little faith that these emotions will give way to something else. For them, the best way to facilitate change is for them to fully observe what is going on. You must allow yourself to look at and feel the feelings you have. You will be surprised that once you do, the feelings disappear or change. When you let something be, it transforms. Giving space to something means giving love, attention and energy. When you give these to someone, you allow them to grow. When you give these to yourself, you grow through self-awareness.
Change is an example of balance in action. Nothing is ever static. Change generally follows a path that relates to polarities. If something is one way, that is, if something is considered good, it is more likely to turn worse than better. The tendency for change is usually toward the opposite especially if it has been one way for some time. When things are at a peak, and especially when this peak is unexpected, you should be ready for the fall from the peak. When things happen quickly, then they tend to disappear quickly. Drug dealers are a great example of how money comes quickly and how it disappears just as quickly. Either they use the drugs themselves and destroy their profits and lives or they get involved in schemes where they are cheated or arrested. On the other hand, when things change slowly, they are more long-lasting. For example, dietary changes take a while to produce an impact on your health, but once they are in force, their effect is more lasting. This contrasts with drugs that act quickly but not for long.
An ideal course for change to follow is one like a spiral. There is a rhythmic flow, back and forth, of relatively good times and relatively bad times, but the overall trend is a progression towards a desired direction. You achieve success then knowing that your path is not a simple straight line.
To be successful you have to be consistent and disciplined. If you change too much, then you are not stable enough to create your intended goals. On the other hand, if you are too rigid, then you become diseased because your fixity does not allow for flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances. Change needs to be balanced to take optimal advantage of its refreshing stimulation.
The next time someone asks you for some spare change, just say that changes are happening all the time and all you need do is tune in to them.