April 5, 2009
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Featured Grownups — Change
In this finite observable universe, change is an inseparable part of being. Everything that is alive is changing from moment to moment, because living is a process, not a state. When things die, the change switches from endogenous to exogenous, but it continues. Decomposition of large organic objects is accomplished by smaller living organisms. Dead organisms are broken down into smaller and smaller bits, and eventually into chemical elements and compounds. Then, at least on this planet, mechanical forces of gravity, tides, wind, rain, etc., change the shapes and arrangements of everything including the inorganic objects left behind by the cycles of life.
Most definitions of “change” feature the word, “different,” or “difference.” To change is to become different or to cause something else to become different. A change is a difference. In Gregory Bateson‘s multi-disciplinary body of work, “difference” is described as the only thing that can be perceived or defined. He observed that our sensory systems are wired to recognize changes, the boundaries between one thing, place, or state, and another. Fast, extreme changes really get our attention. The more gradual a change is, the less likely we are to notice it: at end of day we might not notice that the light is changing until we realize that it has gotten dark.
In ecology, the ability of an organism to adapt to change is a determinant of its likelihood to survive. In psychology, a person’s ability to adjust to change is a marker of mental health. Remove input, perceptions of changes, from our senses (sensory deprivation), and we begin to produce sensory material from our minds: aural, visual, tactile, kinetic and olfactory hallucinations. As an aid to meditation, in a comfortable and friendly setting, this can lead to elevated consciousness. In different circumstances, it can be torture.
Our inborn yearning for change is exemplified in common sayings such as, “Do something, even if it’s wrong.” Curiosity, one of the attributes of intelligence, is a drive to explore new things, places and ideas, embracing change. Not all of us embrace change, and there are some changes that no sane person would welcome. An overload of change, or of unwelcome, traumatic change, can drive a mind into pathological states, including schizophrenia. The current state of the art in neuropsychology recognizes that emotional trauma can cause irreversible changes in brain chemistry and physiology.
…enough of that. Let’s change the subject.
The current topic for Featured_Grownups is
change. This was my take on the topic, but
there are many other ways one could handle it.Change happens. In our personal lives, in our blogs, in our towns, cities and countries–change happens. Sometimes this is borne [sic] of great pain and sorrow, sometimes life’s little (or grandiose) joys, sometimes because you paid $20.00 and the bill was only $19.47. It doesn’t matter what it’s borne of. The fact is: it happens.
Take a few moments and bang out a post about change. The change you’ve seen, the change you’ve undergone, the change you’ve received–it’s all fair game. You pick it.
Write yours if you’d like, keep it clean, post it, then GO HERE and leave a link to your post so we can all find it to read it.
P.S. and BTW
When I realized today that I had only a few hours on the computer, would have to rush this piece, and might not have time to look up those links to supporting and supplementary material, I almost took the quick and easy route and wrote about panhandling: “Spare change?“ Then I remembered I had done that already.
Comments (10)
Change is interesting, at least for me. I fight and struggle for change in some areas… then resist it like all hell in others. The larger the change, the more open I am to it, the smaller the less open. Not sure why.
So things are always changing, huh?! That explains why I’ve never been bored.
@notforprophet - ”…never been bored.” Recently, I read that more intelligent people are less likely to be bored, more able to shift mental gears, find something to think about…. I have never been bored… for any longer than it took me to realize that boredom was the name of my malaise. There’s always a fix for it, anywhere, any time.
@warweasel - I think I’m somewhat like you on the “big” versus “small” changes. The climate changes… okay, I can see how that can happen. What is, IS. But I question it if one of my guys changes a plan, or reverses a stand on some little thing. I don’t necessarily resist the change, but I do want to know why.
To live a life of quality requires that we embrace change, but also that we appreciate stability. Too much stability, without change and we stagnate. But too much change, without stability, and we have chaos. The key is finding balance in our lives between the forces that promote change and the forces that promote stability.
One of the most enjoyablebooks I ever read is W.L.S. Chruchill’s book, Painting as a Pastime. It is the precis definition of how to avoid boredom.
It is interesting–what change can do to our being.
I guess change is like the weather, we’re gonna have it whether we like it or not. But I can think of two things that never change: the mind of a hard core liberal or a hard core conservative.
@dsullivan - I’m a hard core optimist. I think anyone can choose to change, can become enlightened.
I like what you shared here Kathy. With three children I see change like a house full of flies some days. Each person having their voice and their choices leading to their changing world around them. Within the constant change is huge enlightenment happening. We even point it out from time to time, but usually we ride with the flow.
You said it so well, “The more gradual a change is, the less likely we are to notice it” ……yet they leave huge impacts in our lives.