Click HERE to return to the GRANDtimes.com Home Page

 


  << Click to return to GRANDtimes.com

 
Free Prize Drawings
10 second  
sign-up to quailfy
  
 
Articles Archive

cooking  

finance & law  
health  
travel  
Free Resources
  free legal advice    
  free maps & directions    
  free games    
  personals    
     
Marketplace
    shop for  
gifts & products
  
 
  gifts for grandkids    
  product profiles    
Support Our Site
  Make GRANDTimes.com  
your Home Page
  
 
  Click on our sponsors'  
banners
   
 
 



Search:
Keywords:
In Association with Amazon.com
 

Change and Its Unforeseen Consequences

WHERE THERE IS CHANGE, THERE IS LIFE

 

by Jack Jonathan and Sheelagh G. Manheim, PhD

In all phases of human life and in all forms of life on the planet, change is inevitable. One of the great advantages of the human race is the amazing ability to adapt; those who can adapt to change, thrive.

In the past 25 years, technological advances have accelerated to such an extent that some people have to make tremendous efforts in order to keep up. Each generation is subjected to different degrees of pressure. Those born before the 1950s often struggle to adapt, while those born in the 70s and 80s seem to take the rapid change in stride and adapt more easily.

Some examples of recent events or technologies that will affect us for years to come include:

Cell phones which send pictures, show movies, e-mail

Fuel cell technology

Biotechnology

Global terrorism

Outsourcing of customer services jobs to other countries

These are only a few of the events and advances which will alter our lives in unforeseen ways. What will be the consequences unleashed by these events? Can we adapt, or will we be left behind?

Change Without Opportunity

Sometimes we do not have a choice about change. There can be gradual and benign changes in a society that leave certain people out. Much of the Third World has been left out of the current changes in the modern world. In underprivileged societies, young people who manage to go beyond grade school may still end up doing mind-numbing work that is usually poorly paid.

In our own time and society, many people, through no fault of their own, are being left out of the technological revolution because they can’t afford technological tools, or they can’t understand how to use them. When changes as substantial as the technological revolution occur, tension and frustration can escalate. Eric Hoffer contends that when the lack of opportunity becomes extreme, uprisings and even revolutions are the likely consequences.

Coping With Change

Seeing change as an opportunity. Most of us feel more secure when things remain unchanged. To be able to embrace change we need to understand the magnitude of the event and the amount of emotional and physical resources we have available to meet it. In the deadly earthquake which destroyed old San Francisco, a new city was built by the collective effort, aspirations, and vision of people who turned a disaster into a vibrant new city.

Through necessity, a tide of enthusiasm can create radical change in a short time. For example, in World War II as the men went off to war, women stepped into jobs usually reserved for men. As women rose to meet the challenges of the country’s war time needs, their aspirations and expectations of what they could offer were changed forever.

In our own lives, we can view the changes that circumstances force upon us as opportunities. For example, a number of the people laid off work in the late 90s were able to forge new careers with long-term opportunities. Most of us, when faced with circumstances which impose change, are driven by our survival instincts into new avenues which we would otherwise never have explored. These days, when people in their sixties are often still considered young, it is curiosity and passion for life that prods retirees into starting new careers, beginning new relationships, and moving to new locations.

Seeking a new beginning. Sometimes the change forced upon us seems overwhelming. Grave political and economic changes can lead people, out of desperation, to make the wrenching decision to leave their country of origin in search of better opportunities for themselves and their families. The United States was founded on the inspiration and perspiration of such courageous immigrants.

Rose Stolowy’s parents, who emigrated from Poland to the United States in 1922, are one example of such immigrants. Here she recalls her excitement about the move:

When I was 10 years old, the most exciting thing that happened to me was to travel across Europe and come to what they told me was the Golden Land. Coming to this wonderful land was when my life really began. For me it really has been the land of opportunity.

For immigrants like Mrs. Stolowy and her family, the risks of such a huge undertaking were insignificant compared with the opportunities and rewards possible. The dynamics of growth brought about by their striving for success creates progress which makes this country great.

Choice of weapons: Determination to overcome. When the changes are too great, some people may assume their situation is completely lacking in opportunities. Others, in the same situation, manage to retain a vision of hope. One such man was Gordon Parks. In his autobiography, Choice of Weapons, he recounts the story of his grandmother saving him from ghetto violence. She said, “Choose your weapons – either the power of the gun or the power of knowledge.” Determination, hope, and the appropriate choice of weapons, made a positive difference for this young man growing up in an environment where despair is common. Today, Gordon Parks is known as a renaissance man: photographer, writer, movie producer, director, and leader.

Dealing with loss. The most difficult change any of us have to face is the loss of a loved one. When change occurs gradually, we unconsciously adapt to the new reality. This is particularly true when our children grow up and leave home. Although most parents are ready, and perhaps eager, to see their children out on their own, some parents live with a longing for the old life of the family. Kahil Gibran writes: “For you are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.” For most of us, we are the willing bows and we embrace the flight of our living arrows.

However, when the losses are irrevocable, they can trigger reactions that leave us reeling. With the loss of a loved one, for example, enormous change occurs.

We outwardly adapt to the reality, while we may still be grieving deep inside. We have to cope with all the other adjustments that are necessary.

The biggest challenge of my life was losing my precious family members: my husband, and then 7 months later, my daughter. That was very hard. But you have to accept reality. As you get older, you just feel that you are going to lose the loved ones that you have around you. But it is the cycle of life and you just automatically try to work around it. You have no control over it. Rose Stolowy

Some people, while they carry the memory of their loved one, maintain the inner harmony necessary to survive because they accept the reality of the cycle of life.

Passively Dealing with Change

Do we need change? The desire to maintain the status quo causes some people to fight against change or try to delay the uncertainty that change can bring. But, how are we to evaluate the consequences of change? There are opportunities throughout our lives to embrace a change that may have seemed risky at the time. Sometimes, we may not have been bold enough to take advantage of an opportunity. It may have seemed more rational not to embrace a change. Yet we may later remember that decision with wistfulness and wonder what our lives would have been like had we taken the risk.

The founder of Hallmark Cards, Joyce Hall, sent the following memo to his senior managers: “Don’t be afraid to try something new. But be sure that the new way is not just different, but better.” It is important to evaluate the consequences of change.

Must we always say “yes” to change? We may be faced with having to choose between professional acclaim and our own personal satisfaction. Charles Gusewelle, a columnist for the Kansas City Star, was once invited to write a syndicated column three days a week. However, it would have meant writing only one column a week of his essays about life that are so meaningful to him and his readers. The other two columns would have been news columns. He declined this opportunity for celebrity. He couldn’t “sing his song” in the news columns. Because this great opportunity would have been too high a cost to his creative integrity, he declined.

Ignoring change. Today, the rapid advances in technology are driving worldwide change. Part of the problem created by this rapid change is the enormous gap, not just between generations, but between people of the same generation. Some are able to integrate their lives with the technological age, while others fail to embrace, or even adapt, to the new tools.

My husband brought home another electronic “toy” today – a digital camera! Okay, so I won’t have to use it. But, that is just another one on a laundry list of tech toys I can’t use. This house is getting downright scary.

Have a friend over to watch a video? Nope, I can’t get the DVD player to obey my commands. Send an e-mail to my older sister? Nope, not this gal. I prefer snail-mail.

When the electricity goes off, I can’t reset the stove-top digital clock. The instructions are written in Japenglish and I don’t speak that language. My Lexus has On-Star, but no one has been able to tell me how to get it to work, not even my twenty -year-old honors physics major!

So, what do I think of technology? Does Dante mention a tech Hell? Well, he would have had he lived in the 21 st century. I’m just hoping I can move on before

I feel like an alien in my own home. Olivia

Yes, You Can Become Tech Literate, Olivia!

There are a lot of Olivias in the world, along with an equal number of tech phobic men. However, the tech phobic are a slowly dwindling number. People over 50 account for the greatest number of new converts to on-line shopping. There are many programs offered to help people learn the tech skills they need.

There is a certain degree of excitement in being able to understand new technology. When we learn to master the new tools of our time, we challenge our mind and open new ways to connect with the world around us. The conscious effort to bridge the old with the new renews our vitality and “joie de vivre.” It links the excitement of the present with the wisdom of the past.

Of course I can use the computer! How do you expect me to keep up with the world if I don’t go online? I have a cell phone, too. Maggie Neff

Costs and benefits of change. Let’s consider the situation of a couple whose children have left home. Should they stay in their large family home or move to a smaller house or condominium?

This raises many questions because of the memories and emotional ties to the house. For example:

What are the emotional benefits and costs of staying in the house?

Can we deal with sorting through memories and giving things away?

Can our house be modified to meet our changing physical needs?

How often do our children and grandchildren visit our home?

Would there be a financial benefit to living in a smaller place?

Are we still interested and able to manage our garden?

Would our new lifestyle be easier without a house?

The point of the exercise is to evaluate the consequences of making a change. Will it support our physical, emotional, social, and financial harmony? In the face of changing circumstances, our goal is to foster and maintain a sense of balance and well-being.

Several years after the death of her husband, my mother finally decided to give up her beautiful home and garden when she found herself spending too much time worrying about getting help with the gardening in summer and snow removal in winter.

Although she missed her exquisite garden, a source of great pride and delight, she was relieved to be rid of the worry. She found other activities that brought her joy without the huge responsibility. Her new, smaller home became an outlet for her love of color and design. S.G. Hope

Maintaining traditions. If change is part of living, so are traditions. They are links that connect generations and affirm the bonds of a culture. They give us a much-needed sense of identity, continuity, and belonging. In some societies, there are individuals who are considered “living treasures.” These are the people who have maintained the rituals or crafts of an earlier time which seem obsolete in the modern world. We are all enriched by such people who sustain our traditions. By keeping the past alive, they help us to have a new perspective on the present. We can accept change and yet continue to value the traditions which are expressions of our heritage.

Creating Change

Some people are blessed with a vision which transcends their life. They do not seek change, but create change. They do not imagine what an enormous impact their vision will have on the future.

Abraham, the father of the Jewish, Christian, and Moslem faiths, set in motion the unforeseen changes that gave birth to western thought and modern civilization.

He believed that God spoke directly to him, a radical departure from the beliefs of the time. From his insight and experiences came the understanding of the value of the individual as an entity distinct within the group.

With the invention of moveable type many centuries later, access to books, and hence knowledge, became a possibility for anyone who was curious and fortunate enough to be able to acquire it. This gave the individual real power to shape his own destiny apart from the wishes of the powerful elite. The access to knowledge open to so many led to an explosion of new ideas, discoveries, and opportunities.

There is always tension between leading innovators and policy makers because the consequences of scientific and technological discoveries cannot be predicted with certainty. Discoveries can create fear in those who cannot accept the risks of change, who feel their beliefs or values are challenged. The controversy over stem cell research is only one example.

But think of the many people who, following their creative urge, change our world in less threatening ways. In April of 2003, AARP published an article about “The Fifty Most Innovative Americans over Fifty.” The editors called innovators gift-givers because their work results in benefits for all of us: people like Jimmy Carter, who works tirelessly for peace; Norma Kamali, a high-fashion designer for working women; Toni Morrison, who brought literature of the black experience into the mainstream; or Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway scooter for urban transportation and the iBOT wheel chair which can climb stairs.

Yes, You Can … Deal Successfully With Change

How can we cope with the changes that inevitably occur? When faced with enough dissatisfaction, we may be forced to take a risk, and try something new.

Planning for Change

Collect facts about your desired new goal.

Evaluate the risks.

Decide how you will deal with the risks.

Make a commitment to persevere.

Define the small steps that will help you reach your goal.

Tackle each step, one at a time, until you succeed.

Reevaluate the progress you have made.

Reward yourself for each accomplishment along the way.

 

“To succeed takes more than intelligence. It takes persistence, focus, and the sort of insight that comes to the well-prepared mind.”

AARP, April 2003

TIME FOR REFLECTION

Where There Is Change, There Is Life. What is the biggest difference between your life and that of your grandparents?

Choice of Weapons. Think of a time in your life when you were able to see hope in a situation that appeared hopeless to others. How did you create your own opportunity?

Creating Change. Think of a small discovery in the past which resulted in a big change in society. What changes would you like to see created in your life?

Tech Literacy. Name a tech tool you have not yet mastered. Write a list of pros and cons about the benefits of learning to master it. Research the resources available to help you become proficient in the use of that tool.

Adapting to Loss. Remember a time in your life when you were faced with a significant loss.What strategies did you use to cope?

Maintaining Traditions. What traditions have you maintained in your family? Is there a certain person in your family who is the “keeper” of the family traditions?

 

Excerpted from Yes You Can… Find More Meaning in Your Life by Jack Jnathan and Sheelagh G. Manheim, PhD. Copyright © 2005 by Stowers Innovations, Inc. All rights reserved. Excerpted by arrangement with Stowers Innovations, Inc. $19.95. Available in local bookstores or call 800.234.3445 or click here.

  privacy
 
about us    
  links
© 1995-2008 Reece R. Halpern. All rights reserved.