The best way to thrive in today’s ever-fluid, volatile world, is to become a master of change. A “Change Master” not only welcomes, invites and celebrates the flux of constantly evolving life, but also consciously drives and directs these rhythms. When you live “smart,” you drive change. You don’t have to let change drive you.

The person who masters change, masters happiness.

The best way to thrive in today’s ever-fluid, volatile world, is to become a master of change. A "Change Master" not only welcomes, invites and celebrates the flux of constantly evolving life, but also consciously drives and directs these rhythms. When you live "smart," you drive change. You don’t have to let change drive you. When you shift from a "resistance-to-change" mindset toward a self-empowered frame of mind, you unlock your vitality, creativity and spirit. The better you manage change, the better you manage your happiness.

Change, the Unwelcome Guest

Most of us were not raised to welcome change. On the contrary, our modern Western culture promotes the opposite: the pursuit of predictability. We’re advised to try to keep our life as regular, set and stable as possible. The status quo is sacred. The unknown future is portrayed as dangerous and threatening. "Don’t rock the boat!" we’re admonished. The collective strategy is that the more aspects of our life that remain the same, the less we have to adjust and adapt. And the less we have to change, the easier life will be. The party line is that change is inevitable—unfortunately!—but certainly no fun. Having to constantly change and grow is experienced as a struggle—a challenging, hard ordeal—by most of our elders. Their motto: "Avoid change at all costs." Look at the message of our public buildings. They are granite monuments to immutability and permanence.

Make Change Your Ally

Indigenous peoples have a different approach to change. Native peoples live closer to Nature than most Westerners do. And they take their cue from Mother Nature who advises: "Make change your friend, your ally. Allow change to work for you, not against you." The natural world suggests we learn to roll with the punches, so we can enjoy life exuberantly expressing itself through continual change.

Feng-shui Your Life

If we observe elements of nature, we see that water and wind flow with the life’s tides of constant change. Water and wind are flexible and fluid, willing to transform shape immediately with the fluctuating forces acting upon them. They move in the direction of the movement of change. They take the quickest, easiest path—the path of least resistance—no matter what changes in form are required. Hence, the whole philosophy and practice of Feng-shui: the art of nurturing energy flow, health and aliveness. The very term literally means "the way of wind and water." In Chinese, "feng" means wind, "shui" means water.

Change as Opportunity

Native peoples wisely view change as a personal opportunity, not as a threat. They know that change brings fresh perspectives and new possibilities. Indigenous peoples look for the gift in every curve ball that life throws us. Indigenous cultures welcome the surprise and spontaneity that naturally accompany change. They know that the more we flow with the fluctuations of life, the more resilient and happier we are.

"How Can I Steer Change to My Advantage?"

A very smart question to ask! Knowing that change is inevitable and ever-occurring, tribal peoples intuitively respond to life’s fluctuations ahead of time—rather than waiting until life forces them to change, reacting after the fact. Looking ahead with excitement and clarity, native peoples anticipate the inevitable twists and turns of life’s winding river. They prepare themselves and their lives to bend, re-arrange and transform to harmonize with the upcoming meanderings of the river. They know that change is life’s agent of renewal and strategy of survival.

The Myth of Change as Struggle

Contrary to popular belief, change does not have to be hard! Change can be difficult if we choose to fight it or deny it—like the perennial ostrich, sticking its head in the sand and pretending something doesn’t exist. When we’re in denial, changes come at us "out of the blue!" When we don’t prepare ourselves for life’s rollicking rollercoaster, we don’t enjoy the ride.

But if we get proactive and anticipate change, we can not only flow with the current, but also direct the current. We can lead change by taking the initiative to take creative steps ahead of time that allow the inevitable to be accommodated with ease and even joy! A Change Master chooses to embark in new directions, to experiment with different options, and to surf the waves of change as a fun life adventure.

Intuition to the Rescue!

With today’s fast-moving pace, action often has to be taken with limited or imperfect information about the future. Without all the necessary facts, the analytical mind doesn’t know what to do. But intuition does! A Change Master consults intuition—inner guidance, instincts, "gut feeling"—when sufficient data is not available.

The analytical side of our consciousness organizes and stores information. The intuitive side immediately retrieves all relevant data and experience from the full depth and breath of our lifelong experience in order for us to make wise decisions. The analytical mind is to intuition as a file cabinet is to the supercomputer at the Pentagon. Intuition functions a thousand times faster than the mind. And has resources a million times more vast. A Change Master uses intuition to improve his or her ability to improvise and adjust quickly to change. Intuition helps us to not only survive, but to thrive!

Pre-adaptability in Nature

We can learn a lot from animals. They are natural Change Masters. Growing scientific evidence indicates that many species of animals exhibit pre-adaptive behavior—a very smart approach to life’s constant undulations. Animals don’t wait until life has them up against a wall forcing a shift. Sensing the new demands of life coming down the pike, animals take the initiative. For example, many mammals developed longer body hair generations before the coming of the last Ice Age. So when the freezing temperatures came, these species were ready to deal with the new cold climate.

Sensing the Future

Precognition, or the intuitive ability to see into the future, is common with most animals. Critters usually know when a disaster is about to occur. Animals will head for high ground above the flood plain of a river hours before the cresting waters head their way. And since the beginning of recorded history, virtually every culture in the world has reported observations of unusual animal behavior prior to earthquakes.

In 373 BC, historians recorded that creatures deserted the Greek city of Helice in droves just days before the town was devastated and fell into the sea. The Greek historian Diodorus Siculus wrote that snakes, weasels, rats, centipedes, worms and beetles headed inland in huge numbers before the disaster. Before a 1783 earthquake in Messina, Italy, the howling of dogs in the street was so loud that the authorities issued orders to kill them.Animal

Intuition Saves the Day

It was the Chinese who were the first to successfully forecast a major earthquake using observation of animal behavior. On February 4, 1975, the Chinese successfully evacuated the city of Haicheng, a city of one million people, only days before a 7.3 magnitude earthquake—based primarily on observations of unusual animal activity. 90% of the city's structures were destroyed in the quake, but since the entire city’s population had been evacuated before the quake struck, few were injured. An estimated 240,000 lives were saved.

In 1989, Jim Berkland, a geologist in Santa Clara County, California, predicted the Lomo Prieta 7.1 magnitude earthquake by observing the number of advertisements for lost cats in local newspapers. Berkland reported that after a decade of observation, he noticed that cats tend to disappear shortly before earthquake activity.

In his book When the Snakes Awake, Helmut Tributsch lists a large number of recorded instances of extremely unusual animal behavior before an earthquake. These include seabirds flying inland, chickens roosting late, cattle reluctant to enter their stalls, deer coming out of the woods, fish jumping out of the water onto dry land, roosters crowing all night, cats wailing and disappearing, bees evacuating their hive in a panic, deep sea squid coming up to the ocean surface, the sudden disappearance of flies, and bears and snakes coming out of hibernation prematurely. The ancient Greeks considered an understanding of the relationship between unusual animal behavior and earthquakes to be an esoteric form of Secret Knowledge.

Rats Play Lifesaver

Another example of our lifesaving furry friends is the tendency of rats to desert a ship that is doomed to sink. Historically, sailors wouldn't board ships that the ship’s rats had evacuated. Seaman had learned that a ship without rats meant that there was something fatally wrong with the ship, or that the vessel was destined to encounter disaster of some kind.

Head South Feathered Friends

And in less dramatic examples we take for granted, every wild animal senses and prepares for seasonal changes. Geese fly south way before the weather gets cooler. Squirrels stock up on nuts in the summer for the inevitable snow of winter.

Human Intuition Saves a Family

Humans also have precognitive abilities, but usually don’t use them as much as animals. Susan, one of my coaching clients, is an exception. One day she received a very strong intuitive knowing to sell her family’s home and move. Loving the house, neighborhood and schools, her husband and children didn’t want to uproot their lives without a good "rational" reason. Her certainty in the accuracy of her intuition fortunately convinced the family to relocate. The week after the their home was sold and the moving van had left with all their possessions, the house was destroyed in the 1994 Northridge, California, 6.8 magnitude earthquake!

With an open, willing attitude toward life’s inevitable fluctuations, a Change Master can discern the probable path of the future and make pre-emptive adjustments to make the transition easier when it comes. If we are in denial or blinding fear about the future, we can’t get ourselves ready to handle the shifts with grace. With an accepting approach, we can intuitively predict the course of our future and arrange our life to take the fullest advantage of the changes.

Heed the Early Warning Signs

Life gives us signs to guide us along life’s rambling road. If we pay attention, these messages can help us to flow better with the present and thereby, the future. And—have you noticed? —if we don’t get the message, life gives us a lesson. If we don’t get the lesson, life gives us a problem. If we don’t handle the problem, life gives us a crisis. A wise person chooses to get the initial message!

In the Lakota Indian language, the word for "to get the message" is the same word as their word for "my life has changed." In other words, in the Lakota culture, if people don’t take action on life’s signs and make changes in their behavior, they didn’t really "get the message." For the Lakota, receiving guidance and acting on it are one and the same. Unfortunately, in our modern society, we have the socially acceptable habit of saying we get the message—but then not taking the appropriate action on it. A very counterproductive cultural trait!

A Change Master learns how to successfully navigate through the myriad of our life choices by acting on the precise guidance system that the outer world constantly presents. Not only do the indigenous societies live this way, so did all ancient civilizations—right through the time of the Greeks up to the Middle Ages. Even Shakespeare’s plays are full of references to sensing omens and signs—and the human folly of not honoring their directives. It’s only in the last few hundred years—since the Industrial Revolution and human alienation from the land and nature—that we have lost touch with the art and wisdom of reading and following life’s outer signposts.

A Change Master opens the door to more magic, meaning and money in his or her world by heeding the wisdom of life’s signals. Practice makes perfect. As we master the skill of responding to the messages aligning us with our soul's unique path, we will prosper—and enjoy the journey!

Make Love Last Longer!

If we embrace change in our love life, we can extend the honeymoon and afterglow indefinitely! Partnerships in which each party encourages the other to explore and grow can deepen as they transform. Relationships that are allowed to naturally evolve can last years, even decades—even lifetimes!

Develop a "No Limit" Attitude

An expansive, far-ranging attitude is more important than ever in today’s world. Change creates new opportunities—for people who nurture the creativity and responsiveness (response-ability) to capitalize on them. Appreciate and validate your own unique, signature approach to solution-finding (problem-solving) and decision-making. You can boost the quality of your planning and projects by approaching change with a spirit of curiosity, playfulness and confidence. A Change Master avoids premature judgement and rejection of ideas—and suspends preconceptions, assumptions and biases. A Change Surfer goes beyond simply rearranging the already "known" options into seeking whole new horizons.

Re-Spirit Your Life

The effectiveness of your own personal style of dealing with change defines the level of success that can be achieved. Create a change-friendly attitude and approach that is exciting and playful. Catch the joy of your own spirit! Develop passion in your heart. People who have a fire in their belly and a zest for life can overcome all of life’s surprises. A Change Rider stretches his or her consciousness to envision what's possible, not just what is. If you foster your natural strengths, you can respond successfully to all life’s challenges.

The Alchemy of Humor, Laughter and Play

A Change Master balances humor with competence—to achieve the delicate balance between keeping things light and flowing and getting things done fast and well. The efficiency and health benefits of lightness and play are immediate and cumulative. Humor relieves tension, gets you unstuck, and keeps you out of mental ruts. Playfulness activates creative thinking, imagination and vividness—and helps you keep your cool when things heat up. Laughter opens the door to wonderment and greater responsiveness and flexibility. A Change Master employs "re-creation" as it was intended—to re-generate vigor and longevity. Place yourself in conducive environments that stimulate spontaneity and inventiveness.

Tis a Gift!

It’s to your advantage to turn with the seasons and roll with the times. In the words of an old Shaker song:

Tis a gift to be simple,

Tis a gift to be free,

Tis a gift to come round where we ought to be.

And in turning, turning, turning, we come out right,

We enter the land of joy and delight.