In a leadership class I took years ago, I had to read Spencer Johnson’s book called, “Who Moved My Cheese?” (Who Moved My Cheese?: An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life) It is one of those books that stays with you for a long time.  The quick summary is there are two mice who have always gotten the cheese in the same spot every day.  One day they wake up and the cheese is gone.  They are faced with a decision, do they go out and look for the cheese or stay put.  The book unfolds sharing the experience of these two mice who take different roads and lessons learned on the Journey.  You really should pick up a copy.

Change in life is like someone coming along every day and moving the cheese in the mouse-maze we call life.  Change is part of the journey of life.  In my life, having children is the fastest way I have understand this.  You just get used to one season and start to figure it out, and then the kids grow and the cheese is moved.  As changes comes, we can either be pushed along, or influence where we will go.

Change comes in either small or big steps, but change is part of life. In some change all you can do is put up your sails and ride it.  You cannot control the wind, but using the sail and rudder you can steward the direction you go in.

I understand that not all change is good, but know the cheese will be moved.  So you will either adapt or die. .  Adapting does not mean core values have to change, but it does mean we get to continue to produce fruit.

Here are four tips for dealing with change:

 

1. Be aware of your identity struggle.  When change happens, questions will come up about your identity. .  So much of our identity can get wrapped up in what we do, or the circumstances we are in.  However, the God who created us, calls us to him, and wants us to know who we are.  Who we are is not based upon what we do or our changing circumstances, but upon Jesus.

“Basil Pennington suggests that the core of the false self is the belief that my value depends on what I have, what I can do and what others think of me.” (Benner, David G. (2009-08-20). The Gift of Being Yourself: The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery (p. 81). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.)

2. Change can be emotional.  We need to recognize the emotions we are feeling.  We need wise counsel to help us understand it and what it is pointing to or saying about ourselves.  We need that counsels help in guarding our hearts, so we do not become deceived and stuck seeing only one way. We need to watch our attitudes toward others and ourselves.  Check our expectations.

3. We need to listen before we speak.

4. There are always options.  Sometimes we can think this is the end, that there is no way out.  Perhaps there are moments like that where a season is over, but in Christ the season has simply changed.   What option would allow you to be your best and be who you were created to be?

Change is part of life, and as you well know takes its twists and turns.  Don’t let that stop you from becoming and living out who God has created you to be.

What have you found helpful in getting through change?