Why is change so hard to accept?

Change is something that most of us struggle with, but the reality is that it is one of the only things we can be sure of in life…

I did a meditation with Jay Shetty today and he shared this quote…

“In change there is pain but there is no pain like staying the same.”

Strangely I have had the subject of ‘change’ in my head today and was planning to write about this topic, so it seemed even more right when he quoted this.

Change is a strange concept. We are all quite adverse to change, however the one thing that is certain, is that we are all changing, all the time.

Our cells in our body are forever changing and this is truly one of the only things that is certain in life.

The concept of impermanence

When I did my silent meditation retreat in the Blue Mountains, I learnt about the Buddhist law of impermanence. It is one of the cornerstones of Buddhist teachings and a truly beautiful concept. The word that represents this in Buddhist teachings is ‘Anitya’. Essentially, it states that:

All that exists is impermanent; nothing lasts

It can be a difficult concept to grasp, but the ability to accept this can give you peace and understanding in life.

Relating the concept to our lives

So what does all this mean for our day to day lives? And how can we use it to set us free and grow through the hard times?

Everyone goes through challenges and life can be a bit of a rollercoaster at times. But accepting this can be a powerful way to help you get through these challenges that you face.

The concept of Anitya (impermanence) is that things are changing all the time and nothing lasts forever. This applies to situations we go through, our thoughts, our feelings, our hardships.

So whatever feelings you have that may feel like they are weighing you down at a given moment, remember that these will change over time. This applies to your relationships, so if you are going through a challenging time, with ups and downs, chances are it won’t last forever. Feelings are never static, so it is perfectly natural for your relationships to change over time. This is true for your romantic relationships, friendships, relationships with your parents and colleagues. If you can find a way to accept this and embrace it, you will feel set free.

Why do we not like change?

I guess when things stay the same we feel secure. If we experience a euphoric moment, we want to keep that feeling forever and never want things to change. Have you ever had that feeling where you wish you could bottle a moment and hold onto it forever?

However the reality is that things do change.

Clinging on to things staying the same is a sure way to be disappointed in life, because of the fact that things are always changing. It is easy to operate in a mindset of fear and scarcity, but it is empowering to operate in a mindset of love and embrace the crazy reality that is life.

How can we accept change?

I hope you found this useful and in my next post I will be sharing some of my top tips on how to accept change in your life and begin to embrace it…

Jennie, With Love xx