“Change” seems to be all the hype right now. Even the presidential campaign was won with this slogan. There seem to be so many people who don’t like it and want to change (or have changed for them) that simply using ‘change’ as a buzzword will get attention.
Now, mostly, change is not really what we want. Maybe we have something in mind that is so far beyond everything we can imagine that the end of the current situation alone looks appealing. But, in my own experience, the universe has a strange kind of humor. It tries to comply, but if the goal of the change is not clearly specified, we will get a change; only the new situation might not be what we really had in mind – hidden back there in the crevices, afraid to verbalize.
Let’s take a look at politics right now – we will have a president who will implement change. He did not say what the change will be, so this is a pretty smart move, as now everybody has their very own version of that change he or she envisions in mind and thinks that’s what will come. And if that’s not what will get implemented, then it becomes obvious why not – because it was never even promised. And something is always changed, so the promise is kept.
If we want a situation to be different, we have to be specific about what we want the outcome of the change to be otherwise, the change itself will be the outcome, and this is certainly not what we want. It reminds me of the sign at the bar stating “Tomorrow free Beer” – obviously attractive so that patrons return, but of no consequence and cost for the proprietor – he is keeping his promise.
In other words – change is not what we want, and we have to be honest with what we actually want. Take away the attention from what is and see the outcome now. Remember Mahatma Gandhi’s quote, “You must be the change you want to see in the world,” with the stress on BE.
Change has become an emotionally loaded word, and the following video is definitely a prime example. It made me cry (in a positive way, I might add)…
This is from Playing for Change, a project to ‘bring change’ through music. I can imagine that this project could benefit from clearly stating what the outcome will be after the change is accomplished.
Other videos on this foundation’s website do show what the change will be – education, building, improving situations through music, etc.- so the outcome is stated, and the video with its emotion caused me to look, so I guess it all worked out OK.