My new book Lighter has an even bigger sale right now! It is temporarily 34% off on Amazon. Bigger sales usually don’t last long.
On Change and Freedom
The power of impermanence is vastly underrated and easy to overlook. We understand at the intellectual level that everything is fundamentally governed by the law of change, but when life throws its challenges or when we come upon a moment in our lives that we deeply crave to last, the truth of change falls into the shadows of forgetfulness. Change is so predominant in the structure of reality that being absentminded of it will inevitably result in dissatisfaction, stress, and even suffering.
The greatest adversary of the ego is change because the ego arises out of the craving to survive, which means it will attempt to control and keep things the same. Since reality is a moving river, our inner and outer flourishing is dependent on our profound embrace of change. If ego is akin to survival, then the truth of change is akin to freedom.
The ego craves a static existence because it thinks that this is the only path to security, but the greatest security we can cultivate is the release of attachments that come from our total acceptance of change. A mind that is less attached can love more powerfully and completely than one that is bogged down with the denseness of craving to keep things the same. The deeper you travel down the path of embracing change, the easier it becomes to unleash love for yourself and all beings.
Understanding that the tight attachment of ego exists in contradiction to the flowing and open movement of reality is actually an invitation to cultivate the present moment awareness that allows us to live in harmony with nature. It is only in the present moment where we can elevate our intellectual understanding of change into the evermore rewarding first-hand experience of change.
The acceptance of change not only opens the door to inner peace, but it also welcomes you into the deeper insights that ultimately lead to liberation. To be liberated, from the stress and tension that comes with attachment, is a challenging and long path, but one that is worth walking. As you take steps along the path, the truth of change will not only elevate your ability to love, it will also make it easier to deepen your connection with yourself and others. Change will implore you to develop a dynamic identity, one where you allow yourself to let go of old parts of you so you can evolve.
At even higher levels, change will expose the insubstantial quality of ego by revealing that all that is within you is movement itself. As the rigidity of ego diminishes, more space is created for love and goodwill. Some may wonder, what happens if there is no ego, how will we live? Our mental framework would be structured around compassion for ourselves and others, our motivations will emerge from a balanced selflessness where we can be intentional about taking care of ourselves well while doing what we can to support others. At the level of everyday life, you will function as a more expansive and selfless version of you.
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Podcast:
Had a fantastic conversation with Lindsey from the Almost 30 Podcast, where we discuss relationships, personal growth, and finding your intuition. Click here to listen.
Journal Prompt:
How has embracing change helped expand your perspective? What habits do you need to cultivate to help enhance your freedom? What goals are you focusing on for the remainder of the year? When was the last time you felt a lot of joy?
Links:
Clarity & Connection in Spanish
Inward (20% off the original price)
I wouldn’t say I *embraced* change, so much as I begrudgingly admitted change was necessary to accomplish or allow myself to grow in a better direction.
I would love to hear your thoughts on change when one works in an inherently traumatic environment, such as EMS...