“Everything changes. Nothing remains without change” –Buddha

Change is Inevitable. Whether we suffer a painful loss, endure the breakup of a relationship or lose a job, we can never escape the consequences of change. Although we may vaguely sense that someday change will happen, most of us continue to hope that it will never happen to us and that we can build an unchangeable life that will always be perfect. Unfortunately that is an unrealistic expectation which can often be shattered unexpectedly.

If we concede that change is inevitable in our lives, than the next question is how do we cope with this constant in all of our lives? Of course any change is difficult even good changes require some adjustment, but difficult changes can often cause emotional distress. After acknowledging that we have suffered a painful, emotionally difficult loss in our lives, we then must begin to heal by planning how we will move forward and replace what has been lost with something new that will help us rebuild our lives again.

Examining new options and possibilities is always difficult and takes time and energy to implement, so we also need to build the strength and courage which will allow us to begin to move forward on these new paths. If we find that we can’t do all of these things by ourselves and need more support, then we are fortunate to live at a time when that support and help is available through counseling and support groups. When we have again rebuilt our lives with these new options, than it may take some time and patience and effort to feel comfortable with this new adjustment. Change is never easy and that is the reason that so many people have difficulty with it.

To change from something that was comfortable to something new and different is hard for many people to accomplish. It causes fear and stress to try new things that we have never done before. It is important however that we have the strength to move out of our comfort zone for a while or we can never rebuild our lives after a difficult occurrence. We can take courage from the fact that we have not been singled out for this painful experience.. All human beings will, at some time or other in their lives, have to endure and cope with the daunting challenge of change.

To focus on what is still available to us, rather than on what is past, helps us to look for new possibilities, and to understand that each new phase of life requires inner strength, creative adjustment and the desire and determination to find that contentment that is still possible for us to discover and enjoy.