It feels fitting to write about change this time of year. Here in Upstate New York, the leaves are making their colorful transition from green to many shades of yellow, orange, and red. It is a stunning seasonal gift we receive just before the cold of winter sets in.
Change is a natural as the shifting seasons. The Ancient Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, is often credited with the quote, “the only constant in life is change.” Change happens. All the time. So why does it seem like it’s so hard?
“The only constant in life is change.”
Heraclitus, greek philosopher
Homeostasis, according Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, is “a relatively stable state of equilibrium.” The brain and body are wired to try and find this stable state and maintain it. When something is changing, your brain freaks out because it feels or perceives something out of balance. This can make change feel hard. Whether it is a new exercise routine, a different instructor in your favorite class, a new curriculum in your classroom, a new team member in your department or grade level, or any number of changes, big or small, that we encounter all the time, the brain perceives this imbalance as bad. Your brain wants to keep things stable.
But change is necessary and natural. So despite your brain wanting to keep things the same, we need to change, to grow. Over the next few posts I’ll be digging into how we can navigate change as an opportunity and share some strategies for riding the wave of panic from your brain and embracing the new.
Today I’m embracing change by enjoying the changing seasons from Vroman’s Nose in Schoharie County. The colors from the sunrise added another layer of beauty to an already gorgeous landscape.
BetsyWright 