It’s that time of year again and again. It’s this season or that season this Yom Tov or that one. It’s the start of the school year the end of the school year the start of camp the end of camp. Shabbos ends the week begins each day passes again and again.

Those who crave stability focus on the repetitive nature and rhythms of our human existence: Everything is predictable even as it changes. But then inevitably we are all confronted with the kind of change that changes everything. We find ourselves on a completely new page one we haven’t visited before. There are days that change our lives forever sometimes in good ways and other times in ways that don’t feel good at all.

The Challenge of Change

Of course if every day were the same there would be very little challenge in living. It might take us a few days to figure out what the “game” is but then we’d be good to go until the day we died. For instance as newborns we could find ourselves in a cozy cradle with loving parents. We could lie there in the same room for 120 years and then return from whence we came. What would be the challenge in that?

Compassionately saving us from boredom Hashem has created a very different reality for us. From the first day of life everything changes all the time. Our abilities grow minute by minute our situation changes and new events are constantly sent our way. We grow as we adjust to these changing circumstances.

Fear of Change

Part of this growth process results from leaving our comfort zone. “Same old same old” may be boring but at least it feels safe and secure. Anything new brings potential dangers. Will this year’s teachers be as nice as last year’s? Will the new carpool work out okay? How long will it take to adjust to the change in schedule?

Let’s face it: When things change it can always be for the worse. In fact we dread change precisely for this reason. Oddly we don’t anticipate that change could be great better than before new and improved.

Most of all we fear our own ability to make the necessary adjustments. “No I don’t want the new-fangled thingamajig thanks; my old one works just fine. Do you have any of those left?”

Learning to turn the dial a new way might be hard. Reading the instruction manual will be stressful. Why start up? It’s easier to continue on the well-worn path.

Embracing Change

Change is inevitable. Move forward or get left behind. So what can make it easier to embrace? Here are some ideas to try out:

1. Muscle rigidity makes change harder. Shake your body out a bit (swing your arms twist left and right bend up and down shake your head) just before you have to deal with the change.
2. Prepare for the change: Read books about it study up on it talk to people who have done it before you. The more you know about what to expect the easier change tends to be.
3. Talk to Hashem: Ask for help in rising to the challenge and for things to work out. Hashem wants to hear from us — that’s why He sends us challenges to begin with!
4. When you know change is coming (school is starting/ending a child is getting married a baby is due) take the Bach Flower Remedy “Walnut” for a few weeks in advance. Walnut (four drops in liquid four times a day) helps the body and mind adjust to transitions easily.
5. Use the writing strategy: Rapidly write down everything you think might go wrong with the change (“It won’t be good I won’t be able to do it it will be worse than it is now”). Then tear up the paper and discard it.
6. Make adjustments before the change: When school is about to start for instance establish a regular bedtime a week or two in advance; get school supplies organized and ready to go; arrange uniforms schoolbags and other necessities and place them where they belong.
7. Use visualization: Breathe slowly for a couple of minutes and then make a “movie” of yourself within the changed situation. Make it a positive movie with things working out the way you hope they will. $$end numbers$$

Change is the only constant in our lives. Let’s greet the new day with enthusiasm and courage!