April 2014: Change

Download the April 2014 Mandala of the Month

What does it mean to change and why do we often fear it?

By definition, “change” means to make or become different. Intellectually we know that everything changes…in every moment of every day. And yet we insist on trying to keep things the same.

Mainly because it gives us a sense of safety and control, it becomes normal and comfortable. When we allow ourselves to look at this whole concept more closely, we realize it’s all an illusion and that regardless of how safe we make things, it’s all without any guarantee. Remember the Titanic?

So if we can allow ourselves to go with the idea that “change is constant” while knowing that in the end all change is in our best interest (some more obvious than others), our lives actually become more alive and more fulfilling.

If we want to be in control, then use that energy to control what we want in life rather than trying to hold back the hands of time. And rather than letting life happen TO us by default, let’s take hold of the reins to make changes on our own terms.

“If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. … We need not wait to see what others do.” – Gandhi

The design of this mandala represents a 3-dimensional arrow split down the middle with graffitti-like walls. While we color this mandala, in the blank areas outside the arrow walls, write or represent those things in our lives that we want to change by releasing them. Those areas of our lives where we want to focus on changing by creating something new in our lives, write or represent them in the blank space within the split of the arrow.

When done coloring, use this mandala as a reminder of our focus; where we want to change.

Here’s a song that can inspire us to embrace change.