Change is The Constant Companion in Life

Change is the only constant in life, a universal law that affects everything around us. Relationships evolve daily, even those closest to us. I've observed friends undergo transformations—divorces, loss of faith—and it underscores the importance of focusing on the present moment. We only truly have "now."

Consider a couple I knew who moved to Florida three years ago full of hope and faith. Today, they're in a different place—seldom attending church and burdened by doubts and fears they've shared with me. This shift prompts questions about pivotal moments: Did events change them or their responses? 

Life's challenges impact us deeply; studies like the ACE highlight trauma's lasting effects beyond childhood. People at any age can face catastrophic events that alter their paths drastically.

Every day should start with seeking guidance for resilience against life's inevitable obstacles because how we handle opposition defines our journey forward. As Marcus Aurelius said, obstacles advance action—they become part of our path.

The book "Peaceful Warrior" reminds us suffering comes from unmet desires or losing what we cherish since time never stands still. Our minds resist change but must accept its inevitability.

We've all faced smooth times disrupted by unforeseen trials testing our faith and resolve—the real question is how we respond when adversity strikes.

Betrayal or job loss can devastate lives unexpectedly; I've seen individuals nearing retirement lose jobs without clear reasons after decades of work—a betrayal hard to overcome despite eventual success elsewhere.

Embrace change as life's law; be resilient through hardships without letting them break you down completely—you alone control your response moving forward on this earthly journey.

Another insight from "Peaceful Warrior": Life itself is terminal—choose happiness now rather than waiting indefinitely for perfect conditions amidst fleeting moments shaping existence into gifts teaching patience, endurance while being kind toward oneself during struggles experienced universally across humanity’s spectrum where compassion prevails over judgment fostering love encouragement within communities needing understanding more urgently today than ever before amid chaotic world dynamics spinning seemingly out-of-control demanding empathy above criticism nurturing collective perseverance one day at time...

The only constant in life is change. Change is the law of the universe. Nothing ever stays the same. Every single day, our relationships are changing. Even the most intimate relationships that we have are changing. As I have watched so many things transpire throughout my career, my life with friends who have gone through divorces, who have lost their faith, their faith in God, faith in their particular religion. 

It goes back to the statement of just focus on the thing that everything happens in the present moment. The only thing we ever have is the now. So if we look back at what happened in individuals' lives, a couple that I'm thinking of in particular, like three years ago, they were bright, happy, full of faith, looking forward with hope and courage, you know, moving here to Florida. They just got here to Florida. Their careers were unfolding before them, fully engaged in their faith and their religion. 

And now, three years later, these two young ladies, both in their mid-20s that I'm thinking of, are in a completely different spot. They no longer attend church; they are very sporadic. And when they come, there's like a cloud of depression over them. When they speak to me, they have come and met with me and talked about their doubts and their fears and some of the experiences that they've been through in life.

As we go back and rewind the tape, the question in my mind is: where are those linchpin moments? What happened? What happened when they changed direction when they were moving forward in a certain direction hopeful and excited about life, believing in possibilities? It comes back to this thought that something happened in a particular moment that caused this change to happen. 

And I guess the question then becomes: did the event cause change to happen? Or did their response to the event cause the change to happen? Now, there's no doubt that negative experiences in life have an impact on us. The ACE study, Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, is one of the most prolific studies that's ever been done as it relates to early childhood trauma experience. And it's not only early childhood trauma; this stuff continues throughout our lives.

I've watched individuals in their mid-20s, 30s, and 40s where although things were really going super good in their lives, something catastrophic happens and it just throws things out of balance and they do not seem to be able to recover from it. It heads them in a different direction as it relates to their faith or feelings of hope.

That's why I want to go back to this concept: this moment—this day—is the most important day of your life. To begin each day with a prayer in your heart for guidance, for protection, for insight, for wisdom, for resilience. For when we're faced with obstacles—of which there is opposition—the enemy always gets a vote. So things happen; things don't always just shoot down the road in a cheery manner; we all know that.

But it's how we deal with the opposition that is the most critical thing. Like the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius said when facing obstacles: "Impediment to action advances action." What stands in the way becomes the way. Because change is the law of the universe; we never really can grab onto something and hang onto it.

So listen to this interesting quote from the book *The Peaceful Warrior* by Dan Millman: "If you don't get what you want, you suffer. If you get what you don't want, you suffer. Even when you get exactly what you do want, you still suffer because you can't hold on to it forever." See, because time is always moving.

Back to the quote: "Your mind is your predicament." It wants to be free of change, free of pain, free of obligations of life and death. But change is law, and no amount of pretending will alter that reality.

I think as we look into our lives, each of us knows when there are times when things were running smoothly—things were going well—we were looking forward to life with excitement and hope. And then something happened; some experience occurred; opposition came into our life.

Like the saying goes: "the enemy always gets a vote." No matter what we plan to do, there is always opposition. And then the question comes—and I think this is the most important question for each of us—what do we do in those moments? When opposition comes—the slip occurs—the discouraging thing happens—the confusing things happen? When your faith is tried and tested?

One of the most difficult things for human beings to deal with is betrayal of a friendship or loss of a job. I've known individuals who were doing excellently in their career; then certain elements occurred and they were fired at 60 years old—five years from retirement. They'd worked their whole life and gotten to this point where everything was going super well.

And then an agency or their boss—for unknown reasons—let them go. The devastating impact on that experience for that individual has been super hard. So imagine being at the end of your career right when you get to its apex—firing on all cylinders—and then being let go—that betrayal.

This individual I know well has had a very challenging time moving forward even though he's been able to rebound and be very successful in what he continues to do. But just think about it: can someone whom you thought was your friend—someone you've worked with for so many years—really do that? Wouldn't you do everything in your power to stop that from happening?

Yes, we encounter very challenging experiences in life because change is the law of life. So be open to change; be resilient; learn—even when very challenging situations come into your life—don't let them destroy you. You are the only one who can do something about those things in your life.

Continue to move forward; we're just travelers here on this earthly plane. Another statement from *The Peaceful Warrior* tries to keep things in context: "Wake up! If you knew for certain you had a terminal illness—if you had just a little time left to live—would you waste precious little of it?" Well, I'm telling you: you do have a terminal illness; it's called birth.

You don't have more than a few years left; no one does! So choose to be happy now without reason or you never will be at all! As we continue aging through life, realize how precious moments are; moments are simply molecules of time—and every day is a gift.

Even when we're going through challenging difficulties—from my perspective—the best way to deal with those things is to say: "This is my teacher." This hard thing that I'm facing right now is trying to teach me something; what am I going to learn from this opposition? Am I going to let it crush me or am I going to learn from it? 

Am I going to learn more patience? Am I going to learn more endurance? Am I going continue just trying—to be kind—to be gentle with myself? You know there's...be careful how you judge another person.

There's a young man in our neighborhood; he's probably in his late 20s—he's out walking all the time—and my wife and I see him often. We know he struggles with mental health issues; his parents have indicated such—and so he doesn't work; he lives at home while his parents do their best with him.

Nobody really understands him—but we see him walking all alone—and yesterday as my wife and I saw him again she said: "Make sure we wave at him!" Just acknowledge him! He's starting to wave at people as he walks by—and she says: "My heart just aches for him when I see him out walking by himself—in his mid-20s—just trying to get through today."

And she says: "You know what? That's his victory today." Sure other people would look at him and judge him saying: "Oh come on! You need to get out! You need to be working! What are you doing?" You know what? For him getting up and putting his shoes on—is a victory!

It's not for us to judge other people! So look with compassion upon those in your inner circle who are struggling; try understanding them from their point of view—love them—encourage them! They already know how you're feeling—to a certain extent—just love them right now!

You know—as the world continues spinning—it seems—in many ways—to spin out of control—we need more compassion now than ever rather than judgment and criticism. We need simply show love—encouragement—and continue getting up each day trying one day at a time.