Recently I had the opportunity to visit a ranching/farming community I had not been to for a few months. While there I spent time watching a man tilling his field. Back and forth he went with a small manual tiller. Each pass made only a small change to the soil; but back and forth he continued. Two days later he had managed to plow previously overgrown ground and was on to planting seeds for a bountiful return.
As I watched the two-day change take place, I was struck by how gradual change can sometimes be. What also struck me was the fact that had he stopped anytime within those two days, he would not have the upcoming harvest to look forward to. Change is uncomfortable for most people even when it is a change for the better (and will yield new payoffs). It requires letting go of the familiar (non-producing green plants-which look good for the time being but don’t produce a payoff) in favor of new ideas or situations (seeds that may look lifeless but given the right amount of water, fertilizer, and sun, will produce life sustaining provision).
Bottom line, change is inevitable. Whether we facilitate it or stand back and watch the grass grow, it can be used as an opportunity to improve or modify a less effective area of life as we move to accomplish the change. As we begin a new week, here are a few thoughts to contemplate between kicking rocks and pulling weeds:
- If change is a problem, be honest about your feelings towards it.
- When possible, experience the change gradually. Handling it all at once is often harder than easing into it.
- Try to seek change as opposed to waiting for it to seek you. This will allow for a greater sense of control as you move to address it.
- Change your mindset by looking for opportunities to change. Try new activities or experiences as a way to establish a pattern of willingness to experience the new.
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