Get Clues from Nature on Mastering Change

“We have it in our power to begin the world all over again. A situation similar to the present hath not appeared since the days of Noah until now. The birthday of a new world is at hand.”—Thomas Paine

There are all kinds of cycles. In looking up the term “economic cycles” I found the following definition:

“Traditional business cycles undergo four stages: expansion, prosperity, contraction, and recession. After a recessionary phase, the expansionary phase can start again.”

I thought: “Isn’t that interesting? The traditional business cycle undergoes four stages much like the four seasons of nature.”

• Recession = the hibe
ation of winte
• Expansion = the planting of seeds in springn • Prosperity = the blossoming of seeds in summe
• Contraction = the fall when nature contracts before the onset of winter

Globally most of the world is experiencing major winter effects of recession. Large portions of the population have been forced to hibe
ate to unfamiliar territory due to monetary losses or are lying dormant with many of their spending practices.

With the influx of the media reminding us about the horrific financial crises individuals, organizations and governments are facing, it stirs up all kinds of emotional reactions, especially fear. But not everyone is fearful. There are people from all walks of life who are planting seeds of opportunities – opportunities to transcend their latent talents, which have been suppressed in the past fearful of following their destiny.

Don’t let the word destiny scare you. False humility keeps you in the past dwelling in what no longer exists or serves you.

During this time of recession hibe
ation it is a perfect time to reflect and start fresh. It is the natural thing to do. Unlike the quarterly months of the seasons, the recession hibe
ation season is going to take longer. However, that doesn’t mean you stop planting seeds for a new future. For many what to plant is a mystery. What was planted in the past no longer bears fruit.

One thing to bear in mind when planting is to rotate your strengths instead of relying on past performance and production much like a farmer rotates his crops to enrich the soil.

When change is thrust upon you unexpectedly it catches you off guard. You might look around for something familiar to grab onto for assurance, but there is little left. You are in unchartered territory filled with a blend of uncertainty, doubt, fear, anxiety, and survival instincts.

These are not unusual feelings during change. n
Resisting change is like trying to roll a boulder up a mountain instead of learning how to reach the top skillfully, intelligently and wisely. You don’t have to do it alone either! You will reach the top of the mountain easier with support of like-minded individuals believing in the possibility of reaching the top.

The beauty of nature is it goes through what it is born to be and do. The barren trees in winter aren’t fearful of starting anew in the spring, blossoming in the summer, and then contracting in the fall by letting go to return to their winter phase.

Unfortunately when fear rides your thought forms in periods of transition you forget it is your nature to evolve to your next highest level. Fear can lead you down the wrong path to feeling helpless and unloved. The truth is you are naturally creative, resourceful, whole and lovable. You are meant to grow stronger through self-awareness which leads to creative leadership rather than reactive leadership. n
The Chinese Taoist Philosopher, Lao Tzu, encouraged his followers to observe and seek to understand the laws of nature; to develop intuition, and to evolve one’s personal power using it to lead life with love and without force.

“The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” –Lao Tzu

Tips:

1. Take advantage of change to reflect and retreat from outside and inside nonsensical chatter. Write your thoughts in a journal without judging or stopping to edit. Let your thoughts flow on paper.

2. Become more attune to your awareness of your natural senses of touch, listening, sight, taste, smell and balance. More than likely you have led a more reactive existence and have become insensitive to what’s happening in the NOW. Thinking about the past and worrying about the future desensitizes you awareness of the moment. When you increase your keenness to being in the NOW you experience the magnificence of you and your Higher Power. n
3. Take time out to care of self physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

4. Make lists of what you can control and what you can’t control. This will give you realistic guidelines from which to start skillfully climbing your mountain. What often happens is the discovery that you can’t control everything. This is futile thinking and creates unnecessary stress.

5. From the list of what you can control, what opportunities can you create? Be outrageous in your thinking outside of the box.

6. Remember Anything Is Possible - Especially when you are willing to utilize the cycles of life to access the power within to be the leader you are meant to be.