Perceiving Change

Change is a fact of life. Most times, when making a change, people make the mistake of not accepting that they are not ready for the change. Change requires giving something up in order to gain something new and better.

Things do not always go as planned. Hence we should be prepared to expect change. This expectation needs flexibility to accommodate different perspectives, ideas, suggestions and approaches. To be focused of what we want to achieve, it is essential to have a plan. But we need to also realize that plans may change. Keeping our priorities in front of us, we need to make good decisions as the need arise every moment, in the midst of changing circumstances.

Here is a story I wish to share in this context:

Albert Einstein had just administered an examination to an advanced class of Physics students. As he left the building, he was followed out by one of his teaching assistants.

"Excuse me, sir," said the shy assistant, not quite sure how to tell the great man about his blunder.

"Yes?" said Einstein.

"Um, eh, it's about the test you just handed out."

Einstein waited patiently.

"I'm not sure that you realize it, but this is the same test you gave out last year. In fact, it's identical."

Einstein paused to think for a moment, then said, "Hmm, yes, it is the same test."

The teaching assistant was now very agitated. "What should we do, sir?"

A slow smile spread over Einstein's face. "I don't think we need to do anything. The answers have changed."

Moral: It's not always the things we expect to change that change