“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”—Frederick Douglass
We often fear change, but change is inevitable. Change is necessary. Change is growth—and it hurts.
If change is not uncomfortable, it is probably not change that is associated with growth. I often compare exercise and life—because that is what I do. In exercise, the word “variability” is an often misapplied—and, in my opinion, a false—principle of exercise. It is the concept from which we get “muscle confusion” or the idea that we have to frequently change things to get growth (of the muscle). People take this and are constantly changing grips and angles and making slight modifications to the exercises, but neglect one thing—the principle of overload (stressing the muscle a bit more than that to which is accustomed by adding weight). This change is not really uncomfortable. It mainly serves to minimize boredom. Progress, i.e., growth, however, comes when there is struggle. It requires effort.
Life is no different. If change does not come with some discomfort it is either not sufficient or it is not really progressive.
Progress (i.e., “progressive”) has a negative connotation for some, as it has become fodder for political debate. It is often a label used for liberals and one that is held with contempt by some conservatives. Now, my intent is not to use this as a political platform, so whatever one’s political position might be does not matter. Progressivism (according to Wikipedia) is “based on the Idea of Progress, which asserts that advancements in science, technology, economic development, and social organization are vital to the improvement of the human condition”. Certainly, this is open to all sorts of political and social debate (which the reader can partake of in their own time, if so desired), but with regards to the pursuit of “well-centered fitness” progress (growth) is the central goal. Progress is, indeed, “vital to the improvement of the human condition” Spiritually, Physically, Intellectually, Emotionally, and Socially, and progress, as I have asserted, requires change.
We often allow our political and social views to construct imaginary walls which restrict us. We sometimes speak of “thinking outside the box” when there is no box. There is no need to think outside of the box. What we need is to stop believing there is a box at all. Walt Disney once told a colleague: “No! Don’t think outside the box. Once you say that, you’ve established that there is a box.” Of course, his reference was to creativity, but it applies no less to growth.
Religion is very much about the construction of walls to our thinking. There should, however, be a difference between guiding one’s morality and limiting thought. Christ, after all, came not to “condemn the world, but to save it” (John 3:17, NIV). Yes, we Christians like to focus on John 3:16 and, as such, construct a box, but our focus should, nevertheless, be on saving the world—improving the social condition—albeit uncomfortable.
If our efforts to change the world don’t cause us some discomfort, we are probably not acting very effectively. That is, no pain no gain.
Carpe momento!
“There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect.”—Ronald Reagan