Conquering Change: JB's Monday Momentum Week #6
Accepting and Creating Change in Our Lives
Estimated reading time: four minutes
Hello friends,
I'm currently on a service trip with my school in Nepal, working towards Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims to ensure quality education for all. We are working in collaboration with a Nepali primary school to help teach English, math, science, and social studies while advocating education’s importance to parents and emphasizing the necessity of school attendance. So far, the experience has been extremely fulfilling and eye-opening. However, due to the busy travel schedule, I asked my brother’s friend, Chase Brandt—a junior finance major at TCU studying abroad in Florence—to take over.
Chase and my brother, Luke, met in college and have become best friends over the three years they’ve known each other. During this time, I've been lucky to get to know Chase and become friends with him as well. He is one of the most genuine people I know, and whether it’s through sharing valuable advice, engaging in meaningful conversations, or recommending insightful books, Chase has significantly influenced my thinking. Chase kindly accepted my offer to step in this week and has some great ideas to share. I hope you enjoy his writing as much as I did; I gained a lot from what he had to say and I believe you will too. Take it away Chase.
If you missed last week’s edition, you can click here to check it out.
Hello all,
Since the majority of James’ audience is preparing for their journey to college, I thought writing about change would be fitting for this week. Change, I believe, is one of life’s few certainties. Grasping a better understanding of change and possessing a skillset to use it to our advantage is empowering.
A Question I am Contemplating:
How should we prepare for change and use it to better ourselves?
The first step towards conquering change is understanding it can’t be avoided. From the condition of our emotions to the shape of a cloud, change occurs everywhere. Whenever we ponder a new idea, the way we perceive the world slightly shifts. Eating a meal not only transforms the food, it also alters the chemical makeup of our bodies. When a friend moves across the country, the structure of your social network is shaken up forever.
Change is bound to happen, most of it out of our control, yet too often, it brings fear into our lives. A simple tool to overcoming the fear of change, which applies to most walks of life, is understanding that worrying about what we cannot control is mindless. Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus says, “It is not in our control to have everything turn out exactly as we want, but it is in our control to control how we respond to what happens.” In other words, feeling afraid when change inevitably enters our lives prevents us from using it productively.
What does using change to our advantage look like? Rather than associating it with feelings like fear, we can use it as an opportunity to grow and appreciate new things. If you are starting at a new school and don’t love the person you were before, use the new setting to recreate your identity and surround yourself with people who better align with your values. Notice your parents growing older? Start expressing more gratitude while you can. Welcoming change with an open mind leads to profound growth, but what about the change we can control?
One of the most empowering realizations I have come to is how easily we, as humans, can change ourselves. As long as I am alive and healthy, there will never be a moment when I can’t alter my habits, environment, identity, beliefs, or even how I perceive reality. Viewed from this perspective, change becomes liberating. Knowing that we can change ourselves for the better at any moment allows a sense of peace and optimism to enter our lives.
Quote on change:
“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river, and he's not the same man.” — Heraclitus
Goal for the Week:
Have a conversation with a new person every day
While studying abroad in Florence this semester, I have been looking for ways to create new experiences and get outside of my comfort zone. Something as simple as talking to someone new is an excellent way to meet more people and make myself uncomfortable, both great techniques for personal growth.
What I’m Reading:
The War of Art — Steven Pressfield (27% done)
So Good They Can't Ignore You — Cal Newport (31% done)
What I finished Reading:
Steve Jobs - Walter Isaacson
Steve Jobs sat on my list for a few years primarily because I was intimidated by its length (656 pages). Steve Jobs reinforced a belief about long books I picked up from Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life: if the book is good enough, you’ll find yourself wishing it was longer. Walter Isaacson builds a complete narrative highlighting all facets of Jobs’s personality and his role in building one of the most valuable companies in the world. Steve Jobs brought light to subjects such as creativity, marketing, leadership, focus, purpose, and more. 8.8/10
What I’m listening to (one podcast, one artist, one song):
The Knowledge Project with Shane Perrish — Blake Eastman: Learn to Read Anyone
Joe Hisaishi
Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay — Otis Redding
Thanks for reading! Don't forget to subscribe to stay updated for next week and feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Take care,
Chase
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