inspiration
Five Ways
to welcome Change
in the new Year
by elizabeth lesser
R
aise your hand if you’ve had a crazy year, with lots of
changes—good, bad or otherwise. Just as I thought:
We’re all in this together.
The most difficult change I’ve been dealt in the last
couple of years was my sister’s serious illness. Sitting by her
bed one dark day, I came across words by the great Sufi
1
Expect Change
Because we live in a changing universe, expect change:
master, Hazrat Inayat Khan: “Walking on the turning wheel
good change, difficult change, destructive change and trans-
of the Earth, living under the ever-rotating Sun, man expects
formative change.
a peaceful life.”
Reading them, I had an “Aha!” moment—I let go of my
demanding that life be predictable, easy or peaceful. It was 2
Make Friends with Change
Try not to fight change. Make unconditional friendship
such a relief! I decided to make my New Year’s resolution with it, in whatever form it arrives.
about welcoming change with a willing heart. If you want to
join me in this, here are some helpful ways to proceed.
3
Relax into the Mystery
There is much more to this life than we can ever un-
derstand with our tiny brains and fearful hearts. So, in times

of big change, it’s good to be gentle, kind and patient with
Searching for Information on
yourself and to relax. The best peacemakers are those who
are at peace with themselves.
Alternative, Wholistic, Eclectic Living?

Find it downtown at the

4
Receive Change’s Message
Be still and listen deeply for the truth that is carried on
Lloyd Library and Museum its winds—information about the past, wisdom about the

present and direction for the future.
Through its world class research collections in
historic and contemporary botany, pharmacy,
ethnobotany, herbal and alternative medicine,
5
Come Alive
Join forces with the dynamic flow of life. The African-
natural product development, folk medicine, American theologian Howard Thurman said: “Don’t ask what
book and art exhibitions, lectures, and more!
the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do

it. Because what the world needs are people who have come
917 Plum Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
alive.”
513-721-3707

And so, as the old year changes into the new year, ask
Check us out on the web: what makes you come alive, and then go do it—for your own
www.lloydlibrary.org
sake, and in service of the greater good.
Elizabeth Lesser is the co-founder of Omega Institute and
Bringing Science, History, and Art to Life
author of Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us
Grow. See eomega.org and BrokenOpenBook.com
12
Greater Cincinnati Edition / nacincin.com
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