Change
Re-imagining our lives as we move to new possibility
Never in our lifetime have we experienced such unprecedented global change. With COVID-19 attacking our physical bodies and impacting the cultural foundation in which we live, we must simultaneously navigate continuous developments in today’s digital technology. It’s easy to understand our fears and uncertainties. Recently we have all been learning to adjust our daily lives within the chaos of constant fluctuations. The quotidien way we experience change and the manner in which we adapt and seek out possibilities is at the forefront of everything we do. Now more than ever we must come to terms with viewing the world as an interdependent, ever-changing and evolving community. We are surrounded by nature that vividly illustrates and teaches us how an interconnected ecosystem works and subsequently, how change works.
Here is a story about natural change I observed while in Africa.
There is a safari camp located in Tanzania on the Grumeti River. Many hippos spend their days bathing in the river to protect their sensitive skins from the burning sun. One year the dry season lasted longer than usual and the area suffered a devastating drought. The Grumeti dried up completely and the hippos were compelled to leave. One morning the camp manager awoke to find a mother hippo had returned to the area and had given birth. Initially both staff and guests were thrilled to see the mother and her adorable newborn interact in their natural surroundings however it soon became apparent that without water, both she and her calf would perish. After lengthy discussion, everyone in the camp agreed a water conservation strategy would begin immediately to provide a mudhole for the mother and newborn.
At first this temporary manmade system seemed perfect. The guests had great hopes of saving the two animals but a few days later, everyone awoke to discover a different turn of events. Instinctively sensing that the environment had changed, other hippos had made their way back to this small, man-made mud hole. Every day thereafter, as measures for added water occurred, more and more hippos returned. People had not considered the power of natural systems. The innocent human quick fix act of trying to help nature along for the sake of a mother hippo and her baby had changed the ecosystem and generated an even greater disaster. At least six hippos died in a two-day period but then, as nature would have it with anxiety at its highest for the people watching helplessly, the weather suddenly changed. Torrential rains lashed down nonstop, filling the river to its brim. The landscape was transformed. To the immense relief of all, most of the hippos were saved. Valuable lessons had been learned about making quick fix changes to the ecosystem without anticipating the result and about jumping to conclusions when encountering distress.
‘Quick Fix’ solutions are suggestions made without considering their impact on the ecosystem. Our natural ecological system demonstrates that parts affect the whole and the whole affects the parts.
Like the African Savanna, we live our daily lives within an ecosystem. The incredible challenges we currently face provide vivid examples of how each of us are impacted by change and that there is more to understanding and embracing it than coming up with quick fix solutions.
What does embrace change really mean? Embracing change starts with us being aware and paying attention to our own physical wellbeing as well as to the world around us. It’s about accepting and experiencing our full range of feelings, knowing that our emotions play a role on how we respond. We must be aware of our personal beliefs but we also need to be adaptable, learning and growing through transitions. Finally, by connecting with our soul and using our ability to reimagine an ideal outcome, we can ensure the wellbeing for all.
The great measure of our maturity is an increased understanding on how we move through life and evolve our own unique personal journey through our experience with change. Personal authenticity stems from genuine contact with the world around us, alongside our ability to transform and to move on with lives that are forever shifting.
In an interdependent world, we all breathe together and ultimately, we all live together. This coexistence creates unlimited possibility. How we see and respond to change shapes us and we are continually reshaped by events in our unique journey.