Be a Change Master! by Keith Varnum

Be a Change Master! by Keith Varnum

The person who masters change, masters happiness.

The best way to thrive in today's ever-fluid, volatile world, is to
become a master of change. A "Change Master" not only welcomes,
invites and celebrates the flux of constantly evolving life, but also
consciously drives and directs these rhythms. When you live "smart,"
you drive change. You don't have to let change drive you. When you
shift from a "resistance-to-change" mindset toward a self-empowered
frame of mind, you unlock your vitality, creativity and spirit. The
better you manage change, the better you manage your happiness.

Change, the Unwelcome Guest

Most of us were not raised to welcome change. On the contrary, our
modern Western culture promotes the opposite: the pursuit of
predictability. We're advised to try to keep our life as regular, set
and stable as possible. The status quo is sacred. The unknown future
is portrayed as dangerous and threatening. "Don't rock the boat!" we'
re admonished. The collective strategy is that the more aspects of
our life that remain the same, the less we have to adjust and adapt.
And the less we have to change, the easier life will be. The party
line is that change is inevitable-unfortunately!-but certainly no fun.
Having to constantly change and grow is experienced as a struggle-a
challenging, hard ordeal-by most of our elders. Their motto: "Avoid
change at all costs." Look at the message of our public buildings.
They are granite monuments to immutability and permanence.

Make Change Your Ally

Indigenous peoples have a different approach to change. Native
peoples live closer to Nature than most Westerners do. And they take
their cue from Mother Nature who advises: "Make change your friend,
your ally. Allow change to work for you, not against you." The
natural world suggests we learn to roll with the punches, so we can
enjoy life exuberantly expressing itself through continual change.

Feng-shui Your Life

If we observe elements of nature, we see that water and wind flow
with the life's tides of constant change. Water and wind are flexible
and fluid, willing to transform shape immediately with the
fluctuating forces acting upon them. They move in the direction of
the movement of change. They take the quickest, easiest path-the path
of least resistance-no matter what changes in form are required.
Hence, the whole philosophy and practice of Feng-shui: the art of
nurturing energy flow, health and aliveness. The very term literally
means "the way of wind and water." In Chinese, "feng" means wind, "
shui" means water.

Change as Opportunity

Native peoples wisely view change as a personal opportunity, not as a
threat. They know that change brings fresh perspectives and new
possibilities. Indigenous peoples look for the gift in every curve
ball that life throws us. Indigenous cultures welcome the surprise
and spontaneity that naturally accompany change. They know that the
more we flow with the fluctuations of life, the more resilient and
happier we are.

"How Can I Steer Change to My Advantage?"

A very smart question to ask! Knowing that change is inevitable and
ever-occurring, tribal peoples intuitively respond to life's
fluctuations ahead of time-rather than waiting until life forces them
to change, reacting after the fact. Looking ahead with excitement and
clarity, native peoples anticipate the inevitable twists and turns of
life's winding river. They prepare themselves and their lives to bend,
re-arrange and transform to harmonize with the upcoming meanderings
of the river. They know that change is life's agent of renewal and
strategy of survival.

The Myth of Change as Struggle

Contrary to popular belief, change does not have to be hard! Change
can be difficult if we choose to fight it or deny it-like the
perennial ostrich, sticking its head in the sand and pretending
something doesn't exist. When we're in denial, changes come at us "
out of the blue!" When we don't prepare ourselves for life's
rollicking rollercoaster, we don't enjoy the ride.

But if we get proactive and anticipate change, we can not only flow
with the current, but also direct the current. We can lead change by
taking the initiative to take creative steps ahead of time that allow
the inevitable to be accommodated with ease and even joy! A Change
Master chooses to embark in new directions, to experiment with
different options, and to surf the waves of change as a fun life
adventure.

Intuition to the Rescue!

With today's fast-moving pace, action often has to be taken with
limited or imperfect information about the future. Without all the
necessary facts, the analytical mind doesn't know what to do. But
intuition does! A Change Master consults intuition-inner guidance,
instincts, "gut feeling"-when sufficient data is not available.

The analytical side of our consciousness organizes and stores
information. The intuitive side immediately retrieves all relevant
data and experience from the full depth and breath of our lifelong
experience in order for us to make wise decisions. The analytical
mind is to intuition as a file cabinet is to the supercomputer at the
Pentagon. Intuition functions a thousand times faster than the mind.
And has resources a million times more vast. A Change Master uses
intuition to improve his or her ability to improvise and adjust
quickly to change. Intuition helps us to not only survive, but to
thrive!

Inner Guidance Saves a Family

Humans also have precognitive abilities, but usually don't use them
as much as animals. Susan, one of my coaching clients, is an
exception. One day she received a very strong intuitive knowing to
sell her family's home and move. Loving the house, neighborhood and
schools, her husband and children didn't want to uproot their lives
without a good "rational" reason. Her certainty in the accuracy of
her intuition fortunately convinced the family to relocate. The week
after the their home was sold and the moving van had left with all
their possessions, the house was destroyed in the 1994 Northridge,
California, 6.8 magnitude earthquake!

Ride the Wave

With an open, willing attitude toward life's inevitable fluctuations,
a Change Master can discern the probable path of the future and make
pre-emptive adjustments to make the transition easier when it comes.
If we are in denial or blinding fear about the future, we can't get
ourselves ready to handle the shifts with grace. With an accepting
approach, we can intuitively predict the course of our future and
arrange our life to take the fullest advantage of the changes.


About the Author
Drawing from the wisdom of native and ancient spiritual traditions, Keith Varnum shares his 30 years of practical success as an author, personal coach, acupuncturist, filmmaker, radio host, restaurateur, vision quest guide and international seminar leader (The Dream Workshops). Keith helps people get the love, money and health they want with his FREE "Prosperity Ezine" at www.TheDream.com.