#04 3 Lessons from Nature about Change

Change is something most people desire greatly and, at the same time, vigorously avoid. We desire change because we think something is missing. And we fear it because we don´t want to lose what we already have. We slip into the dilemma to change or not to change because we ignore the actual meaning of it. Change literally means to become different.

Our problem is: We don't want things to be different, we only want things to be better. Because of this misconception, people get stuck in their lives.

Butterflies embody nature's profound lessons on transformation and the potential of change.

So many of us feel tormented by the constant push-pull of desire and fear. Desire moves us one step forward, fear pulls us one step back. As a result, we get stuck.

Fear is among the most powerful of all emotions. Therefore it is difficult for us to leave our safety zone for something uncertain. Security and comfort are the enemies of progress. And the longer we stand still, the harder it is to get moving.

The illusion of security paralyzes your desires until your longing for change becomes unbearable. You start questioning yourself, everything you do, and everything you stand for. And then one thing triggers you, and you´ve had it. That´s what they call a midlife crisis.

Indeed, many of us need a time of crisis to overcome fear and find the strength to step out of the hamster wheel. I grew up in a sleepy little town in Austria where things are still very traditional, and resisting change is like a national sport. When I was young, I was full of optimism, hopes, and dreams. I was grateful for all the comfort of living in a welfare state. But everything has its price. Stability restricts your ability to explore. Uniformity undermines your individuality.

Austria seemed to be too small.

Almost overnight, I decided to give up everything and leave my past behind.

Steadiness feigns security.

Security is an illusion.

Today I share my life with somebody who made change part of his life. Someone who loves rearranging furniture every month or taking different routes to the same places - “just for fun.” Who loves to get lost so we can explore the region, and who doesn't care when things go wrong as long as we see something new along the way.

This was not always easy for me. Despite my piercing hunger for adventure and novelties, every change was a stressor to my nervous system. This was the time I started to find out who I really am. And most importantly, I learned how much I can take in and what my boundaries are. In all honesty, I don´t recommend following my example. I was so frustrated with being stuck in my tedious life in Austria that there was only one way out. The radical, painful one.

Today I handle things differently. First of all, I check in with my friends “desire” and “fear” regularly. Talking with these two adorable lunatics is no fun. But only they can answer my questions “What do I want” and “What am I anxious about”. It´s crucial to listen to them. They will guide you in the right direction.

To consult yourself is already incredibly difficult, and even if you find answers within yourself, you still have to implement them into an unpredictable world. Since the earth has existed much longer than us Homo Sapiens, I decided to learn from mother nature.

Things I´ve learned about change from nature

Have you ever noticed that we usually don´t speak of “mistakes” in nature?

If your cell makes a blunder in the DNA replication during the cell division, we call it “mutation”, not a mistake. Our cells make those all the time. And it´s OK because our system is so resilient that one mistake in one of our cells does not always have a negative effect. So here are the three lessons from nature about change:

My Lesson Nr. 1: Not every mistake has a negative impact. Don´t be a drama queen. Move on.

Nature has some incredible features. And one of the most remarkable ones is “metamorphosis”.

During this process, a living organism undergoes a striking change of form or structure after hatching or birth. From the egg emerges a caterpillar, whose only task is to eat as much as possible. After the feeding stage follows the transition into the pupa. Time to hide in a cocoon. And even though you can´t see anything happening from the outside, many things are changing inside. And when the time has come, a beautiful butterfly will be born.

My Lesson Nr. 2: Remember, every butterfly was once a fat caterpillar, hiding in its cocoon, hoping not to be eaten. Even if you struggle today, you can shine tomorrow.

Nature is a perfect reminder of how even the most consistent aspects of our being are subject to impermanence. Sometimes we can´t see it because it takes time. Evolution is the gradual process in which something changes into a different form. Slowly. But surely. Evolution takes generations. Not one single action will determine the future, but all of them together will.

My Lesson Nr. 3: Don´t take yourself and all your doings too seriously. We are all in this together. Let´s enjoy this wild journey called life.