Change is the only permanent phenomenon in life. I know this sentence contradicts itself, but it is true! When you think about it on a larger scale, everything in the universe moves and vibrates internally, regardless of its mass, origin, and purpose. Microparticles, which are the building blocks of everything, are moving, shaking, and vibrating at all times. In fact, new theories are emerging about how it's almost impossible to detect the actual physical location of the nanoparticles within the atoms that give shape to everything. It's as if they exist and don't exist at the same time! To put it simply, everything that is, is in a constant state of moving and changing all the time.

So, if change is one of the most fundamental aspects of existence, why do we perceive it as uncomfortable or even painful at times? I believe we seek consistency and like to find stability in spaces and relationships because of this constant internal fluctuation. Being rooted in a stable physical location, and grounded in an emotional relationship, provides us with a sense of stability. We crave to create safe zones within the relentless storm of information we are constantly exposed to regarding our experience living on this planet. It might be the only thing that gives us a deep sense of calmness, security, and internal peace. Most living things live among their own group, form meaningful connections, and foster deep bonds within their tribe. However, these connections usually come at a cost since we invest a reasonable amount of time, energy, and resources to develop and maintain them, especially if they are outside of our nuclear family. The evolutionary tendencies of life require constant change; the tribal tendencies coded into our DNA crave stability, so the compromise, the coping mechanism, if you will, has become an underlying sense of anxiety about the unknown and the future. The internal compass planted deep within our core and coded into our building blocks has been dealing with significant conflict. On the one hand, we love the security and stability that comes from keeping things in the status quo; on the other hand, we know that adaptation (change) has been the primary reason for our survival. And as our survival through many natural and humanmade challenges proves, we usually had to choose adaptation over stability in order to survive. We have lived through the ice age, famine, ongoing natural disasters, wars, and disease for several millennia, which proves that when it comes to the survival of our species, the ones who survived were usually the ones who have taken the hard road of transformation and change. I also believe that this deeply rooted internal conflict has become the fountainhead for the desire to create a narrative that offers options that perpetuate life beyond our living years on this planet. Why is it that the forwarding engine for life that is propelled by change is constantly challenging our humanistic need for stability?

I believe one of the major components of success and happiness in life is how we negotiate with and balance these two opposite poles: the need for growth and change and the desire for security and stability. To nurture our desire for stability, we invest in our emotional relationships, hold secure jobs, live in the same town or house for many years at a time, drive on the same roads, follow the same routines, etc. However, to be truly happy, we must also cater to the side of us that requires change to grow. Most of the folks who have happy and fulfilling lives have mastered this balance. They learned how to transform and reinvent themselves to grow within the framework of stabilities that keep them securely grounded. The best example of this is when you see a couple merging their resources to change and grow individually as well as a unit. They get fulfillment from having the security that is needed to feel safe and stable but are also unrestricted and capable of exercising their freedom to expand and grow. We need to understand these dichotomies within ourselves and the world we live in and cultivate ways to utilize them to feel secure as we continue to grow.

Be well,
Siamak