Change is a big word. I searched for synonyms of change and found: alter, modify, adjust, amend, vary or even die. My favorite ones were transform or revolutionize. Pearson et al. talks about change as “the process that brings about alteration in behaviour or substitutes one way of behaviour for another” (2003, p.233). One very important term that is used in their definition is “substitutes” – a change from one model to another which can be temporary or permanent. Pearson et al. emphasizes the importance of planned change which is easier to manage (2003).
Change is inevitable and constant. Change happens whether we are ready for it or not. People change, work change, we change, environments change, roles change, and so do meanings change. Change is the essence of life. That is why openness to change is important. In his book (allegory) Who Moved my Cheese, author Spencer Johnson (1998) simplified the ideal attitude towards change. Johnson (1998) listed the following: Anticipate change, monitor change, change with change as quickly, enjoy change, and be ready to change again and again. Johnson (1998) compared change to cheese when he wrote: “Smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old.” This to me means constant reflection which leads to understanding and wisdom. We reflect upon ourselves, upon our environments and relationships and how we affect and are affected by them. Though, we do not stop there. We move forward to respond to the changes to make meaningful experiences, and be able to change again.
Openness to change requires unlearning the things we have already learned, learning new ways of doing things, relearning, and applying it in our lives. If we are able to anticipate change, then change itself is not anymore new to us. Just like an expected guest, we are prepared for it.
I would like to end this post with a quote from my favorite author, Marianne Williamson (2004), The Gift of Change, and it goes: “Sometimes we are living in the in-between times: when we’re no longer who we used to be, but yet haven’t arrived at our next stage either” (p. 238).
