Change is good.

I

hope you got my message earlier this week that Intentional Acts is changing to Meg Reilly 360. Yes, change is afoot!

Change is not always easy. Sometimes it is thrust upon us by outside factors: You're fired. You're hired. You're retired. Your tests came back negative. Your tests came back positive. You're pregnant. You have a buyer. They won't meet your terms. A Category 4 storm is headed right your way. It was an accident. You missed it. Right place, right time.

Sometimes we make the decision ourselves (though rarely, in hindsight, is it made utterly spontaneously): I'm leaving. I'm staying. I'm in. I'm out. I love you. I said yes. I decided not to. I'm not going back. I start now.

It's been said that the more things change, the more they stay the same. It's also been said that the only thing that's certain is that things will change. Changing circumstances are a constant in our lives. And yet, we follow patterns that seem to lead us to inevitable outcomes -- endings that seem to have very little to do with our input after all. So, what influence do we really have?

Well, understanding growth helps. It's true that many processes follow a pathway from beginning to middle to end and we may feel like we're just along for the ride. But that is only so when we mindlessly allow ourselves to be buffeted by the churning winds of change. And they do blow.

But we are always operating regardless of blowing winds or changing seasons or churning tides. We always have the option of trimming our sails, changing our habits or leaning in to change and working with it rather than against it or simply being unaware of it.

When you feel yourself resisting change, stop and ask: What can I learn here? How can I make it better? Where can I find happiness for me in this changing world? What am I afraid to let go of that is no longer serving me in this new situation? How can I now grow more?

I hope you find many ways to enjoy the changes in your life this week.