The end of 2009 is quickly nearing its end, and I am both excited and somewhat apprehensive about what 2010 has in store. Despite my mixed emotions, I feel an urgent need to aspire more for myself and the people around me. During this time of year people seem to always ask the same question, “What will the new year offer ME?” as they wait to be given a hand out. Instead of doing that, or creating a list of fabricated resolutions to abide to, simply ask yourself “what will I offer the new year?” Assuming you put forth hard work and lots of effort this past year, then you just may receive the “change” you feel you deserve. On the other hand, what makes you so sure that 2010 will be any different for you than 2009, if you aren’t living to your fullest potential NOW? Similar to a cash transaction, you will not receive any “change” back if you don’t give more than what’s expected. In 2010, I will make a conscience effort in not only giving more than my share because I want to, but leaving a meaningful tip to boot! But I digress…
Change can be wonderful. People change their appearances, improve their relationships, get great new jobs, even great new spouses. But then you have those changes that are negatively rooted. That’s what change means for a lot of us, stuff you have to pretend to embrace even as your heart sinks, you know it’s going to end badly and you already feel the inevitable loss. The irony of it all is that we want change as much as we fear it and we need it as much as we need safety. It doesn’t matter whether you like change or not, whether you embrace it or run in the opposite direction. Not only will changes be taking place,they will be taking place all the time, with and without your participation. From the slight (they just discontinued my favorite lipstick) to the significant (deaths, break-ups, layoffs). It turns out even if you make no changes in your drama-filled friendships, your stifling job, or your lousy relationship, all those things will change anyway. Your choice is to either “be the change you wish to see in the world” like Ghandi suggests, or to wait and see what “surprises” the universe has for you as you cling to what you thought was safety.
Mostly change is as inevitable as rain in the spring. Some of us just put on rain coats and splash forward, some of us choose to stay home, a few lively people shed their clothes and rain dance in their yards, and then there are those who still choose to go out and get deeply, resentfully, and miserably wet. But no matter what, the rain falls. It falls on dry grass, which is the kind we love and it falls too on weddings, the kind we loathe.
Change = Catch 22.
Refraining from negativity throughout these changes is key. Negativity materializes into negative occurrences, and negative occurrences i.e drama, strips the positive energy from our being. The more negativity we allow to linger within us, the greater chance we have of sabotaging our own happiness.
Change is hard to accept and it is also hard to try to do. You have to look deep inside yourself to change your life effectively. You should try to find the reasons why you’re in need of change, and also why you want to change; because there is no way that you’ll be able to figure out one without figuring out the other. We all have a choice on how to react to changes. We could stay dependent upon the negative impacts that change brings, or we could live according to common Zen teachings and let the occurrences pass, and move on. You can use Zen to completely make your life better and more controlled. When you are looking to gain more control over your actions, using Zen can be a great adventure. You will be able to take things in stride and learn how to deal with the pressures of life that can really bother you in today’s world. When you begin to meditate you find the answers that you seek. It is up to you to take that knowledge and listen to yourself, while using the knowledge to keep yourself going strong. When it comes to meditation, the key is to find peace. Once you have found your peace you are able to live with Zen. But most importantly, you are able to live with yourself.
