by Judy
Change. It's a word that can strike fear in many of us. Most of us think that change is hard. Change can be painful and frightening. We know what works and we can get complacent in our comfortable space. Change makes us confront the unknown, and that thought alone can keep us from moving forward...even if that change will bring something that we've dreamed of, or something that we know will be better for us.
Sometimes change is sudden and we are thrust into a world that we are unfamiliar with. That's hard - really, really hard. But many times change is a process, where we can take one small step at a time to get to where we want, or need, to be. And many times, we still resist - because it's just too hard.
What if nature decided it was comfortable in its present stage? What if, God forbid, nature decided it was just too hard to change from winter to spring? What if spring never came? What if the green buds stayed safely tucked away in their dormant state, never to show their fresh new leaves because they were afraid?
What if the grass didn't try to push through the hard ground because it was just too hard to try? Or what if those tiny crocuses remained underground, protected and safe in their cozy bulbs? When faced with change, what if we looked at it as a new season, as a spring, bursting forth with new life, and fresh beginnings?
Yes, change is hard, but with change comes personal growth. Every time things change in our lives we learn something new - about ourselves, or those around us. About what we can handle, and how well we do that. We can look at ourselves in a new way and think, "wow, I didn't know I could do that!"
Embracing change helps us adapt in different situations. When small changes happen, they won't automatically bring fear and trepidation to our lives. And change can, and does, many times, bring improvements in our lives. At first we may not see them, or look at it that way, but with time, we know that without change we'd be stagnant and bored. The more we embrace, and look for change in our lives, the easier change becomes... even when faced with sudden, sometimes traumatic changes. We can learn to adapt and move forward more easily.
So as we welcome the first signs of spring - the changes in the air, the warmth of the sun, and the buds and blooms popping up, ask yourself.....do I need a change but have been afraid to take the next step? Have you always dreamed of doing something but have been held back by fear of change? Try to see change in your life as a new season - a spring - bursting forth with fresh starts and renewal... Be brave and take that first baby step.