inspiration
5 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
master, Hazrat Inayat Khan: “Walking on the turning wheel
big change, it’s good to be gentle, kind and patient with your-
of the Earth, living under the ever-rotating Sun, man expects
self and to relax. The best peacemakers are those who are at
a peaceful life.”
peace with themselves.
Reading them, I had an “Aha!” moment—I let go of my
demanding that life be predictable, easy or peaceful. It was
such a relief! I decided to make my New Year’s resolution
4
Receive change’s Message
Be still and listen deeply for the truth that is carried on
about welcoming change with a willing heart. If you want to
its winds—information about the past, wisdom about the
join me in this, here are some helpful ways to proceed.
present and direction for the future.
1
Expect change
5
come alive
Join forces with the dynamic flow of life. The African-
Because we live in a changing universe, expect change:
American theologian Howard Thurman said: “Don’t ask what
good change, difficult change, destructive change and trans-
the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do
formative change.
it. Because what the world needs are people who have come
2
Make Friends with change
alive.”
And so, as the old year changes into the new year, ask
Try not to fight change. Make unconditional friendship
what makes you come alive, and then go do it—for your own
with it, in whatever form it arrives.
sake, and in service of the greater good.
3
Relax into the Mystery
Elizabeth Lesser is the co-founder of Omega Institute and
There is much more to this life than we can ever under-
author of Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us
stand with our tiny brains and fearful hearts. So, in times of
Grow. See eomega.org and BrokenOpenBook.com.
Phoenix Institute
12 Little Rock
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