Impermanence is the only constant
Aruna Krishnan
Doctoral Student in Organizational Psychology (PsyD)|Bestselling Author|Mental Health Advocate|Leader in Tech
The last six months have presented me with a variety of challenges to tackle. I am always up for a good challenge, don’t get me wrong. Challenging myself constantly has made me who I am today but this period was very trying. Very trying. I was constantly in problem-solving and overdrive mode - for others as well as for myself.?
Luckily, I am a strong believer that “Impermanence is the only constant” so that sentiment pushed me through a bulk of the tough times. Around mid-December, my persistence paid off and things started to shift for the better. It was strange. It was a much needed relief.
It was like I had just stepped out of the Twilight Zone and there was a possibility for normalcy (within the confines of a pandemic).
Sometimes we go into full-on “Fight or Flight” mode and deal with whatever comes our way. We let our instincts and past experiences guide us through. Now that I have the chance to pause and reflect on the things that helped me stay strong, I realize there were some key factors:
Taking action
The easiest problems to solve are those where you can influence change. You just have to step up and do what you need to do. It may take multiple iterations or may require engagement of allies, but there is still a path to resolution.?
I was able to act on about 50% of my challenges to get the desired result. It wasn't easy and it was draining. But I wasn't going to leave things to chance if I had a choice to change an outcome.
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Finding the positive
Notice I said finding instead of seeing the positive. Life will always throw us curve balls. Many of these act as teaching moments or opportunities for growth. They exercise our ability to be resilient. Acknowledging the negativity is a precursor to finding the positive. Without that acknowledgement, there will be no motivation to change the status quo. This process forces you to see what is going well for you and what you need to change to remove negativity.
Having and showing gratitude
Gratitude is probably one of the most underrated “Super foods” so to speak. The best part… it’s FREE!?
Being thankful for our families, our lives, our jobs, our friends etc. comes at no cost. Reflecting on this from time to time reinforces the good things we have going for us. It gets imprinted in our brains with the resolution of those images getting better and better the more we do this exercise.
Showing gratitude towards others has a small “fee” - your EGO. If you’re willing to let it go, gratitude towards others also becomes free! The secondary benefit is that you add some positivity to someone else’s day and they will likely pay it forward. Showing positivity towards others increases self-positivity because positivity originates from our minds. Mind blowing, right?
Conclusion
All that said, I come back to the line, “Impermanence is the only constant.”?
Life is full of changes. Positives come with negatives and negatives come with positives.
What’s important is that we put things in the perspective of the bigger picture and equip ourselves to deal with the changes and shifts that are a part and parcel of life. This prevents us from falling too far down, enables us to enjoy the good things in life, and keeps us grounded in reality and in the moment.