Life. Such a simple word and yet it encapsulates all that is alive on Earth and how it interacts with itself. Life is ever evolving, taking different forms which makes it seem like ‘change’ is the fundamental principle that life functions on.
Human life is no different. Yes, it’s quite different to the rest of the inhabitants of our planet in that we are not just limited to the cycle of eat, sleep, reproduce and repeat but, change is still an integral factor of our lives.
No matter who you are or where you live or what you do, change is always knocking at the door. Sometimes it is small and sometimes it is big, but it is always there. In fact, Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher has rightly said, “The only thing that is constant, is change.”
For something that is so fundamental to life, one would think that we humans embrace it or at least accept it whenever change happens, but more often than not, we see that it is resisted. Why is that? Well, there are several reasons as to why that happens but there is one big one that I want to talk about today.
The State of Inertia
You might have read about inertia in your science class and heard your teacher explain it to you as “The resistance of any matter to change in its momentum.” Therefore, a body at rest remains at rest and a body in motion remains in motion, unless an external force is applied to it.
We humans suffer from this inertia too and I am not talking just about our physical bodies. We suffer from inertia on a psychological level. Sure, it might have developed in us as an evolutionary trait but it no longer serves the benefit in the modern world.
See, the modern world is too fast paced to remain in one place for a long time, and I don’t mean geographically. Technology is progressing at an exponential rate and as a result, our lives are already changed before we even realise it. Just notice the developments in the last 10 years alone. Don’t they match the progress made in the 30 years preceding them?
Just imagine what the next 10 will be like or the 50 after that. Our lives will have changed 10 times over in the least. It is like a river that has a strong current and we are all sitting in our boats riding the current.
To resist change is like resisting the current, which makes your life very hard. Sometimes, resistance can also put you in a situation where you are paddling against the current and trying to go upstream, which is just worse.
Today’s world calls for us to keep redefining our comfort zones or do away with them entirely because you never know what kind of opportunities you miss just because you didn’t want to change, or accept the ones that have already happened. I have had the first row seat to many people’s lives getting ruined because of just that.
I guess, what I am trying to say is, don’t be set in your ways. There was a time when this quality was admired and looked up to, but today, it is all but obsolete.
Don’t Get Me Wrong
I am aware that I am over-generalising here, but in my life, I have observed that change is resisted a lot. Maybe it’s just coincidence that I have been around too many people who do that, but it has been my experience nonetheless.
And yes we should resist change that is unfavourable and unfair and that potentially could destroy innocent lives. There have been several changes that humanity has embraced in history thanks to which the world is in such a dire situation right now but that is a topic for discussion in another post.
The point is, we should not change just for the sake of it. We should weigh the benefits against the costs and take decisions accordingly. Trust me, some people don’t accept changes even if it is more beneficial. Look at the skepticism towards cryptocurrencies for example.
In the end, I just want to say that, don’t be riddled with inertia, be frictionless, but don’t fall down too, ‘cause that would just hurt!
Changes are natural compositions in humans lives and evolution of tought. They are imminent and inseparable part of civilization. Inertia is like a temporary state of disability to adapt to fresh views of how something works. I think of it as of state of "accumulation of power" that will later be unleashed once a change is triggered by the event. Good topic to think about @sauravrungta. Upvoted.
You said it so perfectly. I agree totally :)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, some change is good, some change is bad. It absolutely requires critical thought and reasoning to decide which is which. But I think pushing back by default on changing because it doesn't feel good will result in bad behavior and really just handicap you in life. Best advice I can give is to be self aware and open to what is sitting before you and to take time to reason about the pros and cons. Once you start doing this, it becomes more natural too!
Yes, that's absolutely what I was trying to convey too. Our default state shouldn't be rejection but examination of any changes. Well said! :)
Nice sharing, it is always not easy to step out your comfort zone, as we always thought about its consequences. I overcome this by challenging other daily practices, like hiking. It helps me to make decsion better and open minded to changes.
Our comfort zones limit us very much and we should always look to expand that. As you said, we can do that by doing things we wouldn't normally do. Thanks for reading :)
By reading this article, I only remember one of my mentor's saying......keep moving like water, as still water stagnates and moving water is fresh and wanted by all.
Exactly!! We should try to be the water that is ever flowing and not the rock that takes the beating of the water.
No problem with change, as long as it's not for change's sake. i.e. change for real benefit.
Yes. Change without real benefit is no change at all.
Thank you for sharing, following you! Wish you have a wonderful day today :)
Thank you so much for reading :) Followed you back.
@sauravrungta Thank you for sharing this article . I think some people more open to change and others instinctively resistant to anything that significantly alters the status quo? The key is often in an individual’s basic attitude toward change. Some people will default to an unfavourable, negative attitude toward change that leads to resistance, while others have within them a favourable positive attitude toward change that leads to openness.
Yeah, ultimately it depends on the sate of the mind of the individual and his nature. Several people are open to change and actually welcome it and these are the people who push humanity forward.
Whatever we think but this is life, we may plan not all the results we get in accordance with what we plan.
Like life that can not be separated from 2 basic things, that's how we try to understand will live. Accept or reject, go or come. Though it is sometimes bad for us but always the final result will be decisive.
Yep, there cannot be one plan for life, it keeps changing and evolving. Therefore we all got to be spontaneous.
Great post! For some people it is easier to do nothing than it is to adjust to the new norm.
That's exactly what happens. Thanks!
its one of the best post its not easy to post about something you like nice post
Thank you so much :)
Pleasure
The amazing pace of technology demands that we adapt faster and faster. Who would've thought that in a generation or two, we would have gone from gold-backed-State currencies to a PoW or PoS backed, blockchain currency with no physical token! That did, truly, seem like a ridiculous idea not long ago.
If someone had told me about this idea some years ago, I would have laughed on their face. But now we are living in this reality!! Technology does things that we can't even imagine or dream about!
You are so right !!!... Follow for follow back
Thank you for reading :)
well done....and now we apply this to the people that have controlled the world and monetary system for 100+ yrs....and now there is change or a threat of change to their power....interesting times
Yeah, technology keeps changing the landscape. I love it!!
People in power hate change , unless it is their agenda.
I believe that most of the young generation is open to change. It's mostly the old people with their old beliefs that carry that mentality and preach their young ones on it. Pretty sure things will change for good with time. Cheers! :D
I was thinking that too. But then I remembered my teenage cousins who seem already set in their ways and just don't want to change! LOL. But maybe it's just them or at least a very limited amount of young people like that.
Great post, interesting perspective. Be adaptable!
Thank you :)
Amazing post, keep it up!!
Thank you so much :)
thanks. it is make me interesting
Thank you for reading :)
got you. Still, homeostasis is also a crucial attribute of life. The ability to maintain stability in ever changing conditions. It all goes hand in hand, an interactive interplay of the extremes ... :)
Perfectly said. Can't argue with that!
Some where I have this word "When you changing means you are alive, once you Stop changing then you are dead." It is good to change yourself sometime for some reason which makes you more gainer, but change yourself so much that you cold not able to recognize yourself when standing in front of mirror.
Nice writing.
That's a great way to look at it. If you don't change, you are as good as dead. Nice!
Your blog is so inspiring and written from heart. I have also feel the same from own experience. Again thanks for share this blog.
Thanks for the kind word. Really appreciate it :)
You are most welcome.
I will be very glad if you follow me @angelshare.
I really enjoyed reading your post, but life is what we make of it and acceptance is what we have to achieve. Live life as if everyday is the last and all will be well. I am glad to have come across this post. Thank a lot.
Thanks a lot for the wonderful comment. Glad you liked it :)
Be a better person than yesterday
That's all that matters :)
There is a special place inside your brain called the hypothalamus. It is the part that forms habits and more or less stores info in the long-term memory.
Once it gets used of something (habit) it can hardly let go. It doesn't like change at all. It is estimated that it needs more or less 40 days to change any habit and it takes a lot of will to do so.
This reminds of something my high school teacher used to say. Habit is very difficult to change because....
When you remove the 'H'.... abit is still left. When you remove the 'A', bit is still left. When you remove the 'B', it is still left. So darn true!
lol. that sounds way too forced. almost like numerology.
baaad teacher :)
lol. hahah!
Still made his point though. :)
People had the same skepticism about the internet and some people never really adapted. Some people will never accept crypto but it is happening anyway.
Exactly. Some of relatives still don't know how to use even a computer, let alone the internet! It is so easy to discard anything but it takes people that want to move forward to embrace these changes.
Risk is the element of change. If one is to define risk, then you can understand why there is resistance to change.
Yes, correct. But many people don't even come to a point where they are able to weigh the risks against the rewards. They are on a default state of rejection of any changes.
What a great post! Resisting change can often seem so much easier than going with it, especially for those who would rat her keep their lives the way that it currently is. Sometimes changes happen for the better, and sometimes changes happen for the worse, but as people, we can't always stop those changes from coming. What are some other reasons you think people resist change? I think fear is one of the most common. Followed :)
You are absolutely right. Be it for the better or the worse, some changes just cannot be resisted. It is better to change and adapt to those. Yes, some changes must be resisted and changed back if they are harmful for the human society.
I think mainly changes to technology and societal and cultural changes are the ones that are resisted the most.
Inertia is evil!
Hannah Arend said: “the greatest evil perpetrated is the evil committed by nobodies, that is, by human beings who refuse to be persons”
I tried to do my part by visiting Zagreb Pride and writing about it. Your posts makes a great addition to mine so I sent people your way and mentioned you in my last. Cheers!
Rightly said!
And, thank you! :)
Thanks for sharing. The article is well written and clear. May I refer to some of your views from your article in my sociology essay?
Thanks for the kind words :)
Yes, definitely. Go ahead :)
ok thanks!
Have you read something about the fibonacci system?. I dont know if its relavant, but you talking about evolving. fibonacci is the code the nature follows.
Followed you
Yep, plenty of proof for that. Not sure if it has a direct link with evolution though.
In Carl Sagan's words, "there is no refuge from change in the cosmos".
The reason we resist change is evolutionary. One could say that life itself is nature's resistance to randomness. Evolutionary speaking, if something works you don't change it. If you end up in a place with food and shelter, you don't risk losing it without a good reason. Taking chances could mean trouble, danger, and energy loss. This is why we have become lazy in regards to changing what we are comfortable with. Nowdays "change" refers to mostly ideological adaptation than physical movement. It takes mental effort to do so but it surely pays back.
Our social cultural context is one of resistance. What is cool about human beings is that they can change how they see change and become change. To me it is called growing up. Such requires an open mind that investigates and loves truth.