Why Change Should Always Be Embraced
The following piece, penned by Yung Pueblo, originally appeared as Sense of Self in the Winter 2022 issue of Tracy Anderson Magazine, available now for digital download and print orders.
A lot of the suffering that we experience happens because we are unconsciously rejecting change. We treat life with a craving for things to stay the same even though that is never an option. We want good moments to last forever and tough moments to never occur. One of the primary drawbacks of this passive refusal of change is that we lose our path to peace. In the total embrace of impermanence, the door to happiness opens. Instead of treating change like an enemy, we need to welcome it as a friend.
Nothing in the universe is static. Change is happening at the atomic, physical, mental, and cosmic level. Change is so critical to this universe of mind and matter that none of us would exist if change were not possible. The movement of change has allowed us all to come into existence. The ramification of this all-encompassing truth is massive for each and every one of us.
When you start embracing change at a deeper level, it will impact the way you understand identity. If the mind is malleable and everything in existence has a subtle undercurrent of change, then this means that who we are is ever-changing as well. Embracing change helps you shift your sense of identity from something that is static to something that flows like a river.
“For the sake of your flourishing, don’t focus on simply finding yourself. Instead, focus on healing yourself from the heavy things you are choosing to hold on to over and over again.”
Your identity can expand, shift, weave, transform, and move in many different ways. You may have parts of yourself that are near and dear and then one day realize that you are ready to let go of them. You may develop preferences that you never saw coming, especially if you are walking the path of personal growth. Truth tells us that identity is actually in a constant state of metamorphosis. If we want to flow in line with the truth of nature, then let your identity change in the ways it deems fit.
For the sake of your flourishing, don’t focus on simply finding yourself. Instead, focus on healing yourself from the heavy things you are choosing to hold on to over and over again. The more you can let go of the past, the more you will be able to connect with who you are in this moment. Healing yourself will open you up so that your words and actions aren’t just a reflection of the difficult past carried in your heart. In the act of letting go, you will finally have the space to be whoever feels right to you in that moment.
If you embrace the truth of change and walk the earth with a willingness to act compassionately toward yourself and others, it will be easier to allow what is genuine to come forward. What matters most is that your actions are emerging from a wholesome space that seeks to harm no one. Life is not about planning exactly who you want to be. It is about taking each moment as it is and asking yourself, “how do I want to exist right now?” Who you are is always changing and that is okay. Change is not something to fear. If you embrace it, it will empower you.
