Surrendering to Change: Life Lessons of a Twentysomething Soul

Change is inevitable. I think that's a given. 

The only thing constant in life is change. 

(image generated by Chat GPT)

It happens both slowly and suddenly, all at once. You never really know how life is going to change even in a split second. We truly have no control over how things unfold. Nothing in life is in our control, and I guess the sooner we accept that, the sooner we start living in the moment. Because if nothing in life is in our control, then what's the point of obsessing over the past or worrying about the future. The only thing that really matters is the present. 

(Note: When I say this, I don’t mean that nothing is worth doing, or that you should just yolo your way through life. Doing your responsibilities—whether it’s working, saving up, or planning ahead—is still your responsibility right now. And that doesn’t equate to worrying about the future.)

Change is scary, but its also what shapes us. 

The only thing you can control is your thoughts, words and actions in this present second. 

Such a simple concept but so difficult to digest.

Nothing in my life has ever gone to plan, and the only thing that keeps me going is the faith that the Universe knows what I need (note, I say need not want) and will only put me in situations which it knows that I can survive. Every change that happens in my life is through its will, and its will only so, who am I to question it. 

The only thing I can do is keep my faith close to me always, through all that life throws at me.

I wonder why our first instinct is always to resist to change when its the one thing in our life that happens ever so constantly. 

Quite funny, no? 

How to survive constant change?

Well based on my limited knowledge and experience, the only way is through acceptance. Acceptance that anything can happen at any time and to not be attached. So easy to say, but so hard to practice—haha. But don't worry the universe will throw many, many tests at you to ensure that you get to practice this each time, until you finally get it and evolve from it. 

I may sound very cynical—and to put it in Gen Z terms, salty—but that’s just the way things are.

When I ponder back in my own life, which most of you may say is still young, considering that I'm only in my twenties, so much has already changed. Whether for better or worse, it's truly been a humbling experience, but also a very blessed experience. 

I've been broken.

I've been lost.

I've been numb.

I've been hurt.

I've doubted myself countless times and so many more. 

But I've also been happy.

I've been loved. 

I've been in love.

I've been blessed.

I've been saved.

I've experienced so many happy moments.

At the end of the day, my perception of change—at this point in time—is this:

Everything happens for a reason.

And the only way through it... is to embrace it.

Accept it.

No matter how hard it is.