The Number One Reason Change Is Resisted
Life. Such a simple word and yet it encapsulates all that is alive on Earth and how it interacts with itself. Life is ever evolving, taking different forms which makes it seem like ‘change’ is the fundamental principle that life functions on.
Human life is no different. Yes, it’s quite different to the rest of the inhabitants of our planet in that we are not just limited to the cycle of eat, sleep, reproduce and repeat but, change is still an integral factor of our lives.
No matter who you are or where you live or what you do, change is always knocking at the door. Sometimes it is small and sometimes it is big, but it is always there. In fact, Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher has rightly said, “The only thing that is constant, is change.”
For something that is so fundamental to life, one would think that we humans embrace it or at least accept it whenever change happens, but more often than not, we see that it is resisted. Why is that? Well, there are several reasons as to why that happens but there is one big one that I want to talk about today.
The State of Inertia
You might have read about inertia in your science class and heard your teacher explain it to you as “The resistance of any matter to change in its momentum.” Therefore, a body at rest remains at rest and a body in motion remains in motion, unless an external force is applied to it.
We humans suffer from this inertia too and I am not talking just about our physical bodies. We suffer from inertia on a psychological level. Sure, it might have developed in us as an evolutionary trait but it no longer serves the benefit in the modern world.
See, the modern world is too fast paced to remain in one place for a long time, and I don’t mean geographically. Technology is progressing at an exponential rate and as a result, our lives are already changed before we even realise it. Just notice the developments in the last 10 years alone. Don’t they match the progress made in the 30 years preceding them?
Just imagine what the next 10 will be like or the 50 after that. Our lives will have changed 10 times over in the least. It is like a river that has a strong current and we are all sitting in our boats riding the current.
To resist change is like resisting the current, which makes your life very hard. Sometimes, resistance can also put you in a situation where you are paddling against the current and trying to go upstream, which is just worse.
Today’s world calls for us to keep redefining our comfort zones or do away with them entirely because you never know what kind of opportunities you miss just because you didn’t want to change, or accept the ones that have already happened. I have had the first row seat to many people’s lives getting ruined because of just that.
I guess, what I am trying to say is, don’t be set in your ways. There was a time when this quality was admired and looked up to, but today, it is all but obsolete.
Don’t Get Me Wrong
I am aware that I am over-generalising here, but in my life, I have observed that change is resisted a lot. Maybe it’s just coincidence that I have been around too many people who do that, but it has been my experience nonetheless.
And yes we should resist change that is unfavourable and unfair and that potentially could destroy innocent lives. There have been several changes that humanity has embraced in history thanks to which the world is in such a dire situation right now but that is a topic for discussion in another post.
The point is, we should not change just for the sake of it. We should weigh the benefits against the costs and take decisions accordingly. Trust me, some people don’t accept changes even if it is more beneficial. Look at the skepticism towards cryptocurrencies for example.
In the end, I just want to say that, don’t be riddled with inertia, be frictionless, but don’t fall down too, ‘cause that would just hurt!
Changes are natural compositions in humans lives and evolution of tought. They are imminent and inseparable part of civilization. Inertia is like a temporary state of disability to adapt to fresh views of how something works. I think of it as of state of "accumulation of power" that will later be unleashed once a change is triggered by the event. Good topic to think about @sauravrungta. Upvoted.
You said it so perfectly. I agree totally :)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, some change is good, some change is bad. It absolutely requires critical thought and reasoning to decide which is which. But I think pushing back by default on changing because it doesn't feel good will result in bad behavior and really just handicap you in life. Best advice I can give is to be self aware and open to what is sitting before you and to take time to reason about the pros and cons. Once you start doing this, it becomes more natural too!
Yes, that's absolutely what I was trying to convey too. Our default state shouldn't be rejection but examination of any changes. Well said! :)
Nice sharing, it is always not easy to step out your comfort zone, as we always thought about its consequences. I overcome this by challenging other daily practices, like hiking. It helps me to make decsion better and open minded to changes.
Our comfort zones limit us very much and we should always look to expand that. As you said, we can do that by doing things we wouldn't normally do. Thanks for reading :)
By reading this article, I only remember one of my mentor's saying......keep moving like water, as still water stagnates and moving water is fresh and wanted by all.
Exactly!! We should try to be the water that is ever flowing and not the rock that takes the beating of the water.
No problem with change, as long as it's not for change's sake. i.e. change for real benefit.
Yes. Change without real benefit is no change at all.
Thank you for sharing, following you! Wish you have a wonderful day today :)
Thank you so much for reading :) Followed you back.
@sauravrungta Thank you for sharing this article . I think some people more open to change and others instinctively resistant to anything that significantly alters the status quo? The key is often in an individual’s basic attitude toward change. Some people will default to an unfavourable, negative attitude toward change that leads to resistance, while others have within them a favourable positive attitude toward change that leads to openness.
Yeah, ultimately it depends on the sate of the mind of the individual and his nature. Several people are open to change and actually welcome it and these are the people who push humanity forward.
Whatever we think but this is life, we may plan not all the results we get in accordance with what we plan.
Like life that can not be separated from 2 basic things, that's how we try to understand will live. Accept or reject, go or come. Though it is sometimes bad for us but always the final result will be decisive.
Yep, there cannot be one plan for life, it keeps changing and evolving. Therefore we all got to be spontaneous.
Great post! For some people it is easier to do nothing than it is to adjust to the new norm.
That's exactly what happens. Thanks!
its one of the best post its not easy to post about something you like nice post
Thank you so much :)
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