Trust and Patience

Allow Change

“When the time for action has passed, do not persist in trying to impose order and direction on events...At such a time even innocent and spontaneous action will cause troubles. There is no more that you can do at present. Instead, you must wait patiently for conditions to change on their own.”

Jack M. Balkin (The Laws of Change: I Ching and the Philosophy of Life, p.301)

One of the most difficult, mind-boggling, gob-smacking realizations in life is that you are not in control of very much. At least, it is for me. We think that we have a vision of life that would be good for everyone, and we push and push to make our dream a reality. But it is almost impossible to know what is best for oneself, let alone for other people. And, there is an excellent chance that my way/your way may be absolutely wrong for others. We could be paralyzed by this realization, or we could simply unclench our hands and wait to see what changes occur naturally. Because one thing that is absolutely certain is that change will occur.

Case in point: I just read an article about changes that are coming to higher education. When I was growing up in North Carolina, high school was a training ground for future careers. There was a college preparatory track, a business track, and a vocational track. Many students spent their four years learning a trade that would lead directly to a job in the real world. The vocational training programs were related to, and partially subsidized by, the industries in the area. It made sense. But all that changed. In the last thirty years, people have been told that unless you have a college degree, you will not prosper in the modern world. This seems to ignore the fact that at least half the population is more suited to trades; and that hands-on work will always be needed. We have shortages of skilled workers in certain areas, such as health care, agriculture and food services, and construction, simply because those critical jobs are under-valued. Now, because of these shortages, and because of the vast number of people who start college, incur tremendous debt, but never finish a degree, we are once again looking at vocational programs in high schools and community colleges as solutions. Change happens in response to need.

If there is something you've been pushing for and getting nothing but resistance, try stepping back and letting go. Perhaps the time is not right. Perhaps there is something else that requires your energy investment. Whether it's in work or in relationships, sometimes the best approach is not to pursue, but to allow. Do not sacrifice your dreams, just hold them in the light and be patient. Learning to trust that when the time is right, the path will be revealed is one of the greatest challenges of life.

                                                                In the Spirit,

                                                                    Jane