I recall a former Presidential candidate whose campaign tagline was “Change”, to which I immediately thought he’d get laughed out of the room.

I mean, who likes change?!

We’re all creatures of habit and change often drags with it fear, anxiety and hesitation.  Yet, for some, the idea of change is welcomed with open arms.  It’s a chance for a reset, for something new, something exciting.

Powering through the change, even when it’s welcome, is a process.  It can take time, patience and a determinant mindset to accept whatever comes with the new.

For new parents, it’s a change of sleep patterns and schedules.

For graduates, it’s a change of embracing the unknown, of discovering who you are outside of your parent’s home.

For retirees, it’s a change of identity, of discovering who you are apart from your title you once had at your job.

Change often puts us in a state of unknowing, discomfort and ambiguity.  For some, change is a deep well of despair.  A well that isn’t easily crawled out of.  Sometimes, you need others to help you up and out.

Regardless of how you experience change, one thing must hold true.  When confronting it, recall past changes you’ve experienced and learned from.  And, recall that you’re still alive and thriving.  Recall that you often suffer more from imagination of how bad the change would be, than the reality that actually occurred.  All change isn’t bad.  Sometimes life hands us change to make us better, to make us more resilient.  Consider who you were before and you who you became on the other side.

Being a self-diagnosed rigid consistent routine person like myself, I don’t often handle change very well.  But, I’m learning.  Though far from perfect, I see the common thread of learnings and aspirations and motivations that come from change.

May we use change for growth, self-knowledge and a builder of our ability to roll with whatever life hands us.

And, as the serenity prayer says, may we seek to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Embrace change.

And live on purpose today!