The Myth of Change as Struggle

Contrary to popular belief, change does not have to be hard! Change can be difficult if we choose to fight it or deny it-like perennial ostrich, sticking its head in sand and pretending something doesn't exist. When we don't prepare ourselves for life's rollicking rollercoaster, we don't enjoy ride.

But if we get proactive and anticipate change, we can not only flow with current, but also direct current. We can lead change by taking initiative to take creative steps ahead of time that allow inevitable to be accommodated with ease and even joy! A Change Master chooses to embark in new directions, to experiment with different options, and to surf waves of change as a fun life adventure.

Intuition to Rescue!

With today's fast-moving pace, action often has to be taken with limited or imperfect information about future. Without all necessary facts, analytical mind doesn't know what to do. But intuition does! A Change Master consults intuition-inner guidance, instincts, "gut feeling"-when sufficient data is not available.

The analytical side of our consciousness organizes and stores information. The intuitive side immediately retrieves all relevant data and experience from full depth and breath of our lifelong experience in order for us to make wise decisions. The analytical mind is to intuition as a file cabinet is to supercomputer at Pentagon. Intuition functions a thousand times faster than mind. And has resources a million times more vast. A Change Master uses intuition to improve his or her ability to improvise and adjust quickly to change. Intuition helps us to not only survive, but to thrive!

Inner Guidance Saves a Family

Humans also have precognitive abilities, but usually don't use them as much as animals. Susan, one of my coaching clients, is an exception. One day she received a very strong intuitive knowing to sell her family's home and move. Loving house, neighborhood and schools, her husband and children didn't want to uproot their lives without a good "rational" reason. Her certainty in accuracy of her intuition fortunately convinced family to relocate. The week after their home was sold and moving van had left with all their possessions, house was destroyed in 1994 Northridge, California, 6.8 magnitude earthquake!

Ride Wave

With an open, willing attitude toward life's inevitable fluctuations, a Change Master can discern probable path of future and make pre-emptive adjustments to make transition easier when it comes. If we are in denial or blinding fear about future, we can't get ourselves ready to handle shifts with grace. With an accepting approach, we can intuitively predict course of our future and arrange our life to take fullest advantage of changes.

(c)2004, Keith Varnum. All rights in all media reserved.

Not surprisingly, this golden mean became a popular idea, especially among rich. It was just what they wanted to hear! Remember that majority of Aristotle's students were wealthy--who else had time to study philosophy all day? Aristotle himself ended up being handsomely paid--especially for a philosopher!

Aristotle had his work cut out for him trying to remain moral while becoming wealthy. His most famous student, classic overachiever Alexander Great, clearly never got point about moderation. Aristotle's emphasis on golden mean got lost in all excitement about pursuing whatever you like.

Hmmmm. Sounds a lot like modern life, doesn't it?

What kind of life would Aristotle suggest we live in midst of all stuff of 21st century? What does moderation mean now?

Wealthy people are not necessarily more or less moral than anyone else, but they ARE tested more than rest of us. They have means to live an excessive lifestyle if they choose to do so. If you live large, your morality--or lack thereof--is magnified for world to see. Add a dash of celebrity and a stint on TV, and you start serving as some sort of example.

This is where we get confused between "a good life" and "the good life".

We're fascinated by choices people make when they have ability to live any way they choose. We read magazines featuring photographs of celebrities in their homes. We watch television shows that give us tours of properties owned by billionaires. We're both fascinated and repelled by reality shows that offer riches to those who manipulate others.

Why? It's because we're curious about choices made, and we wonder what we would do given same set of circumstances.

Seeing homes, furnishings, and cars gives us an idea of what is valued by individual. We watch because we wonder what choices we would make if we had same bank account. Would we be extravagant? Would we live simply? Would we be tacky or tasteful? Would we horrify neighbors or build a better community? Would our children be kind, compassionate, and generous, or would they be self-centered brats with a huge sense of entitlement?

Would we be like Sting--or Ozzy Osbourne? Would we have daughters like Sofia Coppola--or Paris Hilton?

Most of us have the, uh, good fortune of not being tempted to live without limits. Without being fully tested, we don't really know how we'd fare in a world of big money and bigger visibility.

The wonderful thing about living a good life is that it is possible to do it at any economic level. You can live a good life in poverty or wealth. Though we tend to think it's a lot easier to be an excellent human when we have sufficient funds in bank, both versions--rich and poor--come with plenty of challenges.

It's tempting to put off becoming your best self until you believe you have financial support to do it. "I'll be generous once I get to top," you think. "I'll be kinder when I'm not so stressed." "I'll give back to community when I retire."

There's no dollar amount that precludes or guarantees a good life, and there's no reason to postpone your own greatness. You may win lottery tomorrow, or you may lose everything. Despite any dramatic shifts in your personal fortune, you can live a good life today.

Note and relish your own spontaneous woos on a daily basis, and look for ways to increase and deepen them. Think, be happy, and share that wealth in words, wit, and warmth.

The good life never felt so good.