How to Deal With Change
Dear friends,
It is very common for people to be uncomfortable with change. There is a deep rooted natural reason for this.
Our fundamental delusion on this planet is that we need our circumstances to be just right in order to be happy. And everyone wants to be happy. No one ever wakes up in the morning thinking, “I sure hope I am miserable today!”
We all want to be happy, and we are sure that happiness can only be achieved if our circumstances are improved (a little more money, better relationship, good health, more satisfying work, well-adjusted children, etc.)
We spend almost all our time and energy trying to get things right. If a change is coming it means one of those things we worked so hard to get the way we want just might be disturbed. And who wants that!?
I remember an old TV show I saw where a gambler died. Because of the life he had led he expected to wind up in hell. But this place was just lovely. He played pool and every shot went right in. He played roulette and always won. He bet on the horses and his horse won every time. After a few days of this he went to the man who had greeted him upon arrival and, thinking he was in heaven, said, “You know, this is lovely, but I think it is not for me. I suspect I belong in the other place.” The guide said, “My good man! This is the other place!”
We can take what comes and see it as a challenge. We can take it as a lesson and try to see in ourselves what attitude drew it to us. I have a friend who is one of the truly great souls I have met in my life. Upon being informed that he had cancer, he teared up. Someone who was with him tried to comfort him, but he said, “These are tears of joy. Think of the gift I have been given to grow spiritually through this challenge.” A truly amazing response developed over decades of inner work.
There is nothing at all wrong with trying to better our circumstances, but there is an inner joy we can feel after the serious dedication to cultivating uplifted spiritual values. And that joy cannot be shaken even by the most severe winds of change. May we each grow over time until that joy is rooted oak-like in our very core.
Blessings,
David G, manager
For the gang at East West