Psychological Perspectives: Changing climate

The title of this column can be understood from several different points of view. For example, most often environmental changes that engulf the planet come to mind. There also is the environment that engulfs our inner world, that is our psychology or psyche, and then there are the political, family, scientific and other environments that engulf our lives. Changes or needed changes can be related to any or all of these environments or climates.

Understanding that the word climate is not clearly defined leads to the different climate areas mentioned above. When reviewing each of these climates or environments from the point of view of one specific climate, such as the science climate reviewing the political climate, unexpected understandings surface. The different climates and unexpected understandings introduce psychology and can be the focus of a column; however, today, I simply want to discuss changing our psychological climate.

Change seems to be ongoing and unavoidable, at least that is what we frequently hear. Yet, most of us attempt to avoid change. As we age, this avoidance appears to become a stronger part of each of us. Avoidance is usually an ego (our sense of identity and I-ness) expression. Once we, our egos, establish routines or comfortable ways of living, we are reluctant to make changes; reluctance becomes more fixated. The word reluctance implies resistance; resistance of any kind, that is resisting change in all corners of life particularly our inner climate, can be unhealthy. So, whether we are speaking about resisting change on a collective or social level or a personal level, resistance is unhealthy. You might ask: Why?

Well, change does seem to be a natural process in life; therefore, ego resistance to change is similar to standing in front of an avalanche and attempting to hold back the rushing snow. Just imagine trying to do that! Or trying to prevent the natural growth of a pet, which would result in the pet dying. Obviously, resisting nature isn’t possible and is dangerous.

If our egos attempt to resist our psychological natural flow, which includes changes, our lives become more difficult than necessary and unhealthy. As with any process, our psychology requires movement and movement requires change. From the collective to the personal, changing the psychological climate of either is up to us, our egos.

We can stand in the flow of the moving avalanche and attempt to resist the natural movement, or we can do something different and accept the inner changing climate. Now which do you think would be easier and more beneficial?

 

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