Riding the Waves of Change
With Eyes Wide Open
Change is a force with which to be reckoned. It is a constant and inescapable part of life that pushes us out of our comfort zone and challenges us to grow. Change moves at more than one speed at a time. It can thrust us into a traumatic event while gradually moving us through an aging process. Getting older creeps up on us, whereas a crisis, especially on a global scale like the pandemic, is sudden and acute. There is a rainbow at the end of a crisis as long as we keep our eyes wide open.
We are all, in some way or another, recovering from a global crisis that stopped us in our tracks. As destructive as it was, the pandemic paradoxically fostered a sense of sonder: A realization that everyone has a life filled with hopes, dreams, fears, and joys as complex as our own. Typically, people don’t experience life-altering changes simultaneously. The pandemic, however, caused a seismic shift that impacted everyone at once.
Granted, it takes a while to catch up and feel like ourselves after the world tilts on its axis. Getting back in the saddle after suffering a trauma takes courage. I’ve had to do it enough that I’m almost a pro. Knowing how to ride the waves of change doesn’t mean you won’t ever get knocked for a loop. It’s a part of being human.
We need to put our egos aside and be kind to ourselves. As off-putting as a rude awakening can be, the objective is to open our eyes, alter our perspective, and spur new beginnings. Life marches on, and we need to keep in step. That’s what riding the waves of change is all about.
Navigating life and its undercurrents requires self-awareness and creative problem-solving. Life is hard. It is not an amusement ride or how we think it should be. It is the worst and the best of experiences, as hostile and disorienting as beautiful and awe-inspiring. The waves of change support evolution. We can either move with its flow and thrive or fight it and fall into a counterproductive rut.
Understanding the dynamics of change helps navigate rough waters. It gives a sense of direction during circumstances beyond our control. Rather than feeling like victims of fate, we can learn how to ride the waves of change and be masters of our destiny.