The Clock Broke

 

I've had a clock hanging on my kitchen wall for the last 12+ years.  Not the same clock, but a clock in the same spot.  The clock quit working a couple of weeks ago and it was pretty annoying until I replaced it.  What's interesting is it's not the only clock in the kitchen nor is it the only clock within view from most places in the kitchen.  Doesn't matter when the clock broke and was resting in the garbage. There was something different about the way I observed the time and it was both interesting and annoying at the same time.

 

As I observed myself repeatedly looking to a now empty wall to check the time, I was reminded again and again how much a creature of habit I am.  We all are, to varying degrees of course.  In an effort to accept change since it's my mission in life to constantly challenge and train myself to do so, I told myself I didn't need to buy a replacement clock.  So as each day went on, I continued to glance at the now clockless wall.  I silently chided myself for such silly behavior and the days passed.  About 3 weeks into this I decided enough was enough and I ordered and happily installed a new clock.  Ah, all is right with the world.  I had come to the conclusion that while I certainly missed the clock a little and it wasn't vital to have it there, I liked having it there.  The conscious thought process together with whatever subconscious stuff was going on (which I don't have time in my life to explore!) led me to replace it.  I am really happy I replaced the clock.  So what?

 

I tell you about my clock episode because it's an example of how our brains work most of the time and why change really is challenging and invigorating at the same time.  Change isn't tough because we are all closed minded and unwilling to learn, it impacts us because we've learned through our human evolution that doing the same thing the same way each time generally results in better productivity and makes us feel good.  Sometimes doing things the same way results in a lack of feeling anything because we are on autopilot.  In my opinion that's something to be wary of.  Remember, I said I fall in the line of thinking that positive, self-induced change is the only way to go.   Doing something a different way gives us one of two opposite results.  Either we feel invigorated or we feel bad, worried or anxious.

 

Now only a fool would drop a tried and true way of doing something to try something untested, right?  To some degree, yes. The answer is in the "degrees."  How much testing does one need to do to make a decision to change?  In my clock example I tested things for about 3 weeks before deciding it was more enjoyable to have the clock. I'm sure others would have replaced it much sooner and others (but I'll venture to guess far fewer) may have chosen not to replace it at all.

 

In my mind there are only 2 things to take away from my clock experience.  One, be conscious as much as possible about how you manage change. Two, be conscious about how you manage change.  Yep, I know I repeated myself.  The statement was worth repeating.  While adapting to or embracing change is a personal choice, not being actively engaged in the changes that happen isn't. Making good choices involves active thinking and active thinking is what grows brain cells and keeps one young.  How's that for motivation to embrace change?

 

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