WARNING: Change is ahead, embrace it!

Change is the only constant in life.

Heraclitus.

We’ve been here before, but life is different now.

Indeed, life will change. It is changing and has already changed. To be sure, the coronavirus chaos that is leading to recent changes has been thrust on us like a roadblock or crossroads. The times demand our change, they demand a new direction, they demand we adjust.

Plain and simple, if you believe you’re going to return to the same world you left recently, forget it. In life, and especially in crisis, change is the only thing you can count on.

Just as other life-changing events.

9/11.

Most everyone remembers where they were and what followed. This event impacted America perhaps more than the rest of the world, but it certainly brought changes to our way of life, behavior and habits.

• Most notably, in the way we fly: increased security and the creation of TSA, the largest federal start-up since World War II.
• Growth of and coordination of U.S. Intelligence.
• The way we view the world.

World War II produced great innovations and inventions we still use today.

• Pressurized airplane cabins.
• First flights of jet engines in early 1940s.
• Development of radar, which was critical to winning the war, and is now part of our everyday lives.
• Many other things were improved or refined, including penicillin, guided weapons and even the use of helicopters.

Crisis, disaster and emergency leads to change.

• The death of legendary Dale Earnhardt brought major safety changes for NASCAR.
• The assassination of JFK and resignation of Richard Nixon led to the 25th Amendment in 1992.
• The creation of the state of Israel brought about changes in the Middle East that continue to change the world today.
• Men landing on the moon gave us powdered substances (Tang, coffee), velcro and much more.
• The civil rights movement, fall of the Berlin Wall, Hurricane Katrina also resulted in major changes.

All great changes are preceded by chaos.

Deepak Chopra.

All of the above events meant great changes for society and those people who endured them. You are transitioning to the new normal that is developing and evolving. You can either embrace it and be part of the transition or you can reject it and build up walls. Either way, you must adapt and adjust and fine-tune your approach to life.

Life as we know it will change. It will bring about differences to our health care system, to personal hygiene and regulatory matters. Congress may soon become virtual. You will see changes to the way we do church, increases in telemedicine, food delivery and even family matters.

What lies ahead is a refocus of our ideals, principles and values.

The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.

Socrates.

But perhaps more than anything, you are going to change. It’s your perspective and approach to life that will determine your success going forward.

Chuck Swindoll’s perspective on life has never been more true: “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond.”

Start now. Stay in tune to what is happening around you. Understand the changing environment. Evaluate your own life and recognize the changes occurring to your perspective, emotions and attitude. Make the adjustment, it will make you or break you in the coming months.

Remember: Fear is a virus, it’s contagious. But guess what, so is hope! Spread hope, not fear. Be part of the solution and not part of the problem.