SourceURL:file://localhost/Users/miriamgunn/writing/Mydeliberatelife/Change.doc
Change
I think we are fascinated, repelled, drawn, exhausted - by the subject of and act of change.
I can't tell you how many people I have heard say, "I hate change." Yet an equal amount of people get bored with the status quo. So it seems to be a confusing subject.
This weekend, I have been attending a conference in which the audience and the speakers are universally focused on intentional living – all of which requires aspects of personal growth within my thoughts, perspectives and actions.
It has me asking quite a few questions. How much is enough? What would something radical require of me? Do I have to go somewhere to achieve something great for the world (several of the speakers were doing various types of relief efforts in other countries across the globe). What is the balance of focusing on the problems / needs of the world, and enjoying the amazing blessings that my life affords? How do I live in the tension between self-care and selfishness.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this gathering is that the underlying worldview was very similar to my own, yet the application was quite different than the inspirational talks I am used to. What this allowed is for me to actually consider real application.
If you present someone with something too similar to what they already know and believe, it only produces agreement, not actual stretching. And if it is too different, they will reject it outright. This is good for me to remember, both on the receiving end, but also as I try to challenge others to give more thought to why and what they do …