WAHAT #10: How Do You Face Change?

A dynamic, colorful image that illustrates how humans must balance the fear of change and the love of change, created by ChatGPT-4o.

If you read only one five-book trilogy (plus appendices) that’s also a hopefully dystopian, hallucinatory, deconstruction-prone, non-linear romp through multiple, equally ridiculous and plausible spins on politics, society, and reality, make it “The Illuminatus Trilogy.” Originally published in 1975, it has stories and lessons that are very likely timelessly relevant.

Whatever you think of it, “Illuminatus” is also likely to change how you perceive something it presents to you in one or more unexpected ways. Talking birds, for example. Or the signs you see in posh retail stores. Or the number 23. (If you know, you know. If you don’t, you will – if you read the trilogy.)

One of my favorite “Illuminatus” plot elements is a drug called AUM. This concoction has one simple purpose: to transform neophobes, those who fear and resist change, into neophiles, those who embrace and welcome change.

When I first encountered AUM, two things became immediately clear to me. 

1. I’m definitely a neophile.

2. The neophobe-neophile divide may come closer than any other societal bifurcation I know to applying to just about everyone.

3. If AUM existed, its developers would be both celebrated and excoriated. Because…well, you know…

So Which Are You? 

Before you answer,  consider this. Fear of change doesn’t regularly appear on those “top 10 fears” lists. But aren’t fears of things like death, sudden loss, failure, rejection, and even “the unknown” basically variations of an underlying fear of change? Framing other fears as different flavors of a common core fear could lead to a change in how one views those fears and chooses to deal with them. Or not. Depending.

I’m betting most of us are neophilic about some changes and neophobic about others. I’m also convinced that life in general is likely a bit less tumultuous for those of us who tend to lean toward neophilia. Why? Because change is ubiquitous, pervasive, and unavoidable. You, I, and everyone around us is constantly changing, inside and out. Almost everything we encounter is changing as well, whether we can see or experience those changes or not. All evolution and growth is change.

Seems to me seeking to avoid, ignore, or prevent change is taking on a never-ending, Sisyphean task. So I choose to embrace change rather than fight it. And I have a few ideas that might help you (or others you care enough about to engage in such discussions) embrace change more easily and frequently as well.

Dortch’s Recommendations for Facing Change More Positively

• Resist your resistance to change. Effectively dealing with change begins with choosing not to fight it. Your resistance to change has likely had little to no effect on any changes you’ve faced. That’s unlikely to change. Accept it and move on.

• Choose serenity. As the world-famous “Serenity Prayer” advises, we do best when we strive to accept what we cannot change, change what we can, and understand the difference. Changing what we can takes courage, but courage is not an absence or lack of fear. Rather, it is acknowledging that fear but choosing act despite it. Which can lead to greater serenity.

• Own your power. We have little to no control over most of the changes happening to and around us. That’s not bad or a problem; it’s just reality. However, we always have control over how we choose to respond to those changes. Owning that power of choice is the lever and fulcrum you can use anytime to shift your perspective from neophobia to neopnilia. No AUM required. 

A final thought worth keeping in mind. "The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new." This quote is often attributed to famous Greek philosopher Socrates – but he never said it. The Socrates who did say it is a character Dan Millman’s 1980 book “Way of the Peaceful Warrior.”

One more opportunity to change your perception of something. Please enjoy. You’re welcome.

Now What? Your Serve...

I am naively optimistic enough to believe there is value in trying to look at what I do, how I do it, and why I do it. Writing about things like those in this piece is part of that process. So to echo my  ABCs of human motivation, the achievement of writing and sharing these posts delivers the benefit of helping me crystallize some thoughts and feelings, and tighten up some of the internal connections linking my body, mind, and spirit.

This collection of thoughts and feelings also offers the promise of connection with others. That's where you come in. 

Your reactions eagerly sought and warmly welcomed. Feel free to leave your thoughts wherever you’re reading this if comments are supported, or to email me directly at medortch@dortchonit.com. I hope this begins some interesting conversational threads, excerpts and summaries of which I will gladly and gratefully share (anonymously or with attribution as you prefer) in future outings, several of which are already in various stages of construction.

Thanks for reading. Thanks again in advance if you share your reactions with me, share this post with others, or both. And please stay connected so we can continue and extend this emerging, evolving conversation.

We All Hunger and Thirst (WAHAT) is a series of pieces I’m writing and publishing to share things I’ve learned and foster connections and conversations about various elements of life and the world. Send your suggestions and reactions to me directly at medortch@dortchonit.com, and feel free to share what you’ve read with others. Thanks!