You may have heard it before, but it bears repeating. Change happens. It is inevitable. The natural state of the Universe is dynamic, not static. Even though we can rely on certain processes and natural states in the Universe to be relatively stable in order to anchor our reality, in truth, the Universe is in a perpetual state of activity and flux. Nothing, as they say, is permanent.
Whether we consciously realize it or not, we are constantly in a state of change, as is the Universe all around us. However, much of this change takes place on microscopic and quantum levels, so we do not rightly see that our natural state is dynamic, not static. The big difference between the Universe and us is that the Universe does not resist the dynamics of change and evolution. In truth, it is quite incapable of doing so. Yes, change happens, but, for humankind, transformation is optional.
All Things Must Pass
In physical terms, you and I are constantly changing, but a good number of those changes are not observable through our ordinary senses, at least not without some disciplined practice of spiritual observation. Some of those changes are beneficial, and some can be deleterious, depending on the direction of our choices. But all changes are an invitation to be transformed through the renewal of our spirit.
In consciousness, which is where we actually live, we are always at choice about whether to engage or resist change. The quality of our experience in consciousness depends on which we choose. The mature soul knows not to hold too tightly to any condition or circumstance, attempting to make permanent what is ultimately transitory. Most of our suffering results from resistance to the dynamics of change that is all about us, both in the natural and the spiritual realms of our experience. Ultimately, nothing is permanent. As the quiet Beatle, George Harrison, once sang: all things must pass.
There Is No Peace Possible in Resistance
In order to be transformed by the processes of change, we must be willing to engage and embrace change. The mature soul knows that change is inevitable and that there is no peace possible in resistance. By its very nature, resistance is grounded in fear, and can therefore never lead to peace. Only love is transformative. Fear, in any form, is destructive to peace.
It is impossible for fear to prevent the processes of change. However, it is possible for fear to impede your personal transformation and destroy your personal peace in the process. You cannot fight for peace. It is altogether impossible, because peace cannot be where fear is present. In a spiritual sense, this is non-negotiable. If peace is your goal, resistance is futile.
We Are Like Butterflies
We can take a lesson from observing the life cycle of the butterfly, which appears to go through a cycle of living in one state, then dying to that state in order to assume another state of being, only to die to that one too, before ultimately emerging yet once again from its chrysalis state into the butterfly. Yet even the butterfly state itself is temporary. It too changes and the butterfly is quite incapable of resisting it. Metaphorically and spiritually speaking, it is the same for each one us.
The changes and vicissitudes we experience as we go through life are much like the life stages of the butterfly. This is why the butterfly has been such a rich symbol for cultures around the world since time immemorial. Symbolically speaking, the butterfly has represented everything from love to time to change to evolution and more for cultures around the world for millennia. With respect to our own changing and evolving natures, we can all learn a lot from observing the life cycle of the butterfly, not in order to buttress our scientific knowledge and understanding, but rather to be inspired to embrace our own evolutionary processes.
Bring On The Transformation
It is a safe bet that you, like me, may likely be going through some changes in your own life. Just two weeks ago, I personally experienced a cosmic smack down in the form of a concussion that has ratcheted my usual wide bandwidth down to about 25 percent of my usual load capacity. However, far from being catastrophic, it has placed me in a position of evaluating what is truly important in my life.
Changes will happen in the wake of this crisis, whether I fight it or embrace it. There are some things we cannot just power through to get to the other side. Attempting to do so only obscures the opportunities for transformation that the changes are inviting. So if you, like me, are experiencing some changes in your life, if the ground beneath you seems to be shifting, and you are not yet sure how it is all going to shake out, I encourage you to embrace the changes. Do not resist them. Be willing to look at the changes from your soul’s perspective. Ask yourself: What is the purpose of this change?
Inevitably you will find that the purpose of the change is to transform your experience into one more aligned with your authentic capacity for love, rather than the conditioned instinct to react in fear. Many changes are first experienced as negative, before we realize through experience the opportunities for transformation that became possible because of the changes. If transformation is the question, the only appropriate answer is: “Yes, please!”
