Part of the beauty of playing with creativity is continually being open to newness, change, and growth. But part of growth also means I may not be the same today as I was yesterday. And in a world that values consistency, branding, and predictability, this can cause some raised eyebrows.
When we’re born, our changes are celebrated – whether they are physical, mental, or emotional. Across cultures and countries, we have rituals and ceremonies to mark and commemorate our growth as we transition from childhood, to adolescence, to adulthood.
But once in adulthood, it seems we put less emphasis on celebrating change and more on valuing consistency. We’re expected to act the same tomorrow as we did today, even if we feel different tomorrow.
When did change – not positive or negative, but any change at all – become a problem?
Imagine saying to a teenager, You used to be three feet tall and you were so happy. Why are you creating all these problems for yourself by being six feet tall? You’ve changed. You’ve grown.
What would adulthood, middle age, and old age look like if we never stopped celebrating our growth and changes? What would our families, friendships, communities, nations, and the world look like?
Farhad is Co-Founder and Mindfulness Facilitator at Beyond Binary Consulting.
He is the author of Orientation: For the Journey of a Lifetime
