This is a quote by Gandhi and it is my absolute favorite quote. There is a call to action that evokes optimism and hope. There is a sense of freedom and boundaries fail to exist. The possibilities are endless. But let’s take a closer look at a six-letter word in this quote; C-H-A-N-G-E. This is a loaded word. Change suggests that things don’t stay the same or something is not working. Behind the word ‘change’ can be feelings of anxiety, stress and discomfort. These group of emotions typically like to hang out with the “what if” crew. When you feel nervous or overwhelmed when making a change have you ever asked yourself, “What if I fail?”, “What if people judge me?”, “What if I am not good enough?”, ‘What if they laugh at me?” Then there are the times when change is forced upon us like having to deal with a natural disaster or being quarantined due to COVID-19. The thing about forced change is that most of the time, you are not alone. How many times have we heard, “We are in this together” as we battle COVID-19? There is camaraderie in changing together; we get through to the other side somehow together. But when it is just you that is doing the changing, it can feel like you are on a deserted island. To make a change, requires things like discipline and motivation. And where do they come from? Do they magically appear once ‘Change’ comes on the scene? Nope, but your cortisol (stress hormone) levels increase drastically! Seriously though, where can you get two scoops of discipline and motivation when ‘change’ and the “what if” crew shows up? What happened to the optimism and freedom that was referenced earlier? Well, perhaps getting perspective will help.
Change is inevitable. Change pushes us out of our comfort zones and stretches us to confront truth whether we like it or not or are ready for it or not. But there is a difference when we ourselves get to determine what the change will be. The word “Be” in this quote is empowering. I can “be” and I get to decide what that “be” is. When you are able to embody or champion for change in something that you have a personal connection to or that you strongly believe in, then and only then, will motivation and discipline magically appear. Most people wish for positive change and circumstance or for goodness and happiness. The word ‘wish’ conjures up the spirit of hope and desire. When this occurs, we get two more scoops of motivation and discipline with sprinkles of perseverance and determination. There is a shifting that happens and it leads to you becoming. Transitioning from thoughts and dreams to an existence and reality.
But what happens when change is forced upon you? Perspective is still relevant. Sometimes we may not be able to decide ‘what’ the change will be but we can determine the ‘how’. In order to “Be” there must be a vision and it is important to never forget your voice. With a vision and voice, you can find your ‘how’. With vision and a voice comes motivation, discipline, perseverance, determination along with undercurrents of transitions and transformations that lead to the becoming of change. The wonderful thing about change is that it has the possibility and freedom to spread. Change is contagious and borderless. Change can stretch across oceans and extend to the ends of the earth. When we use our vision and voice to harmoniously become the hopeful change we wish to see in the world, there is a beautiful assembly of freedom to create an existence to be enjoyed by all of humankind.