Change Is the Only Constant

Change — even if we don’t want it — can be beneficial. Change brings us new opportunities to evolve, adapt, and move beyond limiting beliefs.

Transcript

Hello,

This is davidji and welcome to today's meditation on moving through change.

Perhaps you're going through some change right now.

Perhaps you find yourself resisting.

We need to remind ourselves that change is the continuous,

Constant in this beautiful world of ours.

We all respond differently to change as we move through life.

Some of us are naturally more flexible and we handle change pretty smoothly.

We can easily adjust our mindset when situations or circumstances shift.

But even when we're so adept at gliding through change,

There are times when we get upset,

We're angry,

Disappointed,

We're defeated,

As life unfolds differently than we anticipated.

And how we respond to this non-stop flow of change in our life that sweeps through us each day,

Ultimately becomes the fabric of our life.

So let's explore.

Let's find a comfortable place to sit or lie down.

Together,

Let's take a long,

Slow,

Deep breath in through our nose.

And gently let that go.

And let's breathe in again together through our nose.

And gently release that.

And now effortlessly,

Innocently,

Allow your eyelids to float closed as you gently follow your breath in and out.

Change is a natural part of our life and we all face it at one time or another.

Most of us are continually adjusting our behaviors,

Our expectations,

And our personal desires,

Making small tweaks that reflect our changing needs or our interests.

Some have even become our time-honored change rituals,

Such as our family reunions,

The seasonal cleanses we participate in,

Cleaning out our closets,

Even going on a retreat,

And how you respond to change often depends on the results you think it will bring.

But it's our relationship to change that truly determines whether we can feel fulfilled in each moment.

The Serenity Prayer.

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference offers us profound guidance,

And it's that last line and the wisdom to know the difference that is what we'll address right now.

Keep following your breath in and out.

How hard is it to understand the difference,

To have that wisdom between the things we cannot change and the things we can?

And that's why the first step towards moving through change is awareness.

Awareness of everything within us,

Awareness of everything outside of us,

And our awareness of the magnificent dynamic exchange between those two worlds.

We can influence those things outside of us,

We can have impact on them,

But most of the time it's about our interpretation of those things outside of us.

What we can truly influence is what we think,

What we say,

And what we do.

And when we can know that we're always coming from our highest choice,

Then the process is easier.

And if we can live that,

Believe that,

And place all of our attention on that,

Then we can move forward.

And that's why we're here.

We're here to help you.

We're here to help you.

We're here to help you.

We're here to help you.

We're here to help you.

We're here to help you.

And place all of our attention on what is within our power to move,

To influence,

To think,

To speak,

To do.

And allow everything outside of our abilities to just take care of itself.

Then we will live with greater grace and greater ease.

So right now,

In your mind's eye,

Conjure up a challenge,

A difficulty,

Something that's been irritating you,

Annoying you,

Frustrating you,

Maddening you,

Saddening you,

And gain some clarity on that particular issue right now.

And let's ask ourselves,

What's one component of this that I truly have no influence over,

Have no control over,

But it's consuming my attention?

This may be a person,

This may be an outcome,

This may be some part of the scenario that we truly don't control.

Let's get clear on that.

Let's breathe it into our heart right now.

And give ourselves permission to release it,

Let go of it.

And now ask yourself,

What's one thing I can do right now?

What's one thing truly within my power to influence?

But as I influence it,

I am coming from a space of higher truth.

This thing that I will do will not just serve me,

But will serve others in the process.

How can I take an unconditioned step in the direction of the big picture,

In the direction of serving me and those who will be impacted by this decision?

What step can I take that's nourishing to me and to others?

What action can I take?

What words can I speak that will move the situation more closely in the direction of a higher outcome?

We know nature abhors a vacuum and we've released right now the thing outside of our control,

So let's fill it with that thing that we do control.

Let's invite that step,

That one piece that will give us greater freedom.

Let's invite that into our heart right now.

And let's anchor it in with a long,

Slow,

Deep breath in.

Feel it set and now release it.

Let it go out into the universe and begin its magic.

We always must lean in the direction of our dreams,

But by releasing this first,

It will begin to move out into the world,

Like an appetizer before our main meal.

The second step in moving through change after awareness is acceptance,

Accepting that this moment is perfect in spite of everything it carries,

Accepting that we are exactly where we need to be,

Accepting that the universe will deliver us to exactly where we need to be.

In our ownership of that moment,

We can then take the next step through change,

Seizing its opportunities,

Identifying where it serves and doesn't,

And transforming into someone who can ride the wave rather than be its victim.

We're clear right now on the step we can take.

We've released our attachment to the thing we don't control,

And let's take it deeper by connecting to the stillness and silence that rests within.

We'll use the mantra,

Om Nama Shivaya,

Om Nama Shivaya,

Om Nama Shivaya,

Which essentially means,

Thy will be done by releasing ourselves from outcomes and placing our attention on the one thing that we truly can control right now.

We leave it up to the universe to answer.

We leave it up to spirit to work out all the details,

And we reconnect ourselves to the energy that rests inside,

Our own power,

Our own ability to truly move ourselves in the direction of what will serve us.

Om Nama Shivaya.

We'll silently repeat this mantra over and over and over,

Allowing the universe to slide into the driver's seat.

This is the ancient translation of grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.

As you repeat the mantra,

Om Nama Shivaya,

You will drift away to thought,

To sounds,

To physical sensations.

That's okay.

As soon as you realize you've drifted away,

Ever so gently drift back to the mantra.

If you notice that you're focused on a mood or a feeling or have some expectation of what's supposed to unfold in this meditation,

Treat those as thoughts and gently drift back to the mantra.

I'll watch the time.

And when you hear me ring the chime,

Just sit gently with your eyes closed.

So let's begin.

Om Nama Shivaya.

Om Nama Shivaya.

Om Nama Shivaya.

Om Nama Shivaya.

Om Nama Shivaya.

Om Nama Shivaya.

Om Nama Shivaya.

Om Nama Shivaya.

Om Nama Shivaya.

Om Nama Shivaya.

Om Nama Shivaya.

Om Nama Shivaya.

Om Nama Shivaya.

You you you you Om Nama Shivaya.

And now together let's take a long slow deep breath in.

And gently let that go.

Let's do that one more time.

Long slow deep breath in.

And gently release it.

And let's seal this meditation.

Let's seal our serenity in accepting the things we cannot change.

Let's seal our courage to change those we can.

And let's seal our wisdom to truly know the difference by chanting Om,

The hymn of the universe.

Just one time together.

Take a long slow deep breath in.

And when it feels comfortable you can slowly open your eyes.

You can look around at those who you share this collective consciousness with.

Let's place our palms together.

Raise them to our heart.

Bow our head.

And say Namaste.

I honor the divine light in you that's also in me.

And when you're in that space and I'm in that space,

We are one.

Namaste.

As we move throughout the day,

Let's keep the serenity prayer as a sudden kalpa,

A subtle intention flowing in the background.

When we stub our toe,

When we find ourselves struggling,

In that moment of frustration,

Silently whisper to yourself,

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

Keep it real and I'll see you in the gap.

Reviews

Thank you for this & all your tracks! I was laid off after 25 years on 10-1 & your meditations are keeping me sane throughout this agonizing process. I’m 63, single & have RA & am very nervous about my future!
Your calm voice and guidance are really helpful & appreciated 🙏🏼

A calming reminder to seek the wisdom to know the difference with regard to change. 🙏

Beautiful insightful meditation..thank you so very much

Love & try to live by The Serenity Prayer. A beautiful start to my day … Thank you Davidji 😊❤️

Love David G and especially this one. I heard it first at a meditation meeting. Today I played it while lying on the beach after yoga. It is truly a beautiful morning and my mind and soul are primed for the day ahead.

As a former Addictions therapist, this beautiful, simple meditation really resonated with me. Namaste

the serenity prayer has so much in it. thanks for opening my eyes and my heart.

Helpful in a time of uncertainty and rapid change in my workplace. When my security is threatened by instability, fear creeps in, even though I know to let confidence rise instead. Thank you for this calming meditation to accept what we cannot change. - I’m still working on the wisdom to know the difference. 🙏☮️

Thank you for this practice David. The timing is right for now moving forward with Serenity and having the wisdom within ourselves other what we can change🩵

Thank you so much. On an ongoing basis you inspire me, help me, and guide me. Thank you.

This meditation is so wonderful and it helped me so much. Thank you 🙏

You get right to the center of the issue. And then I breathe. It's so healing. Thank you

Honestly you’re the best there is! I enjoy and feel every single one of your meditations to the core! Thank you David G!

Change is the only constant. Something I struggle with…releasing resistance to change 💜

This is beautiful and reassuring. Davidji, there are a few teachers that touch my heart, mind, and soul. You are one of them. Namaste.

Thank you for this. I'm so grateful to have come across this. Needed to hear this.

How comforting and profound it was to meditate on the Serenity Prayer. Many thanks for the serenity, courage and wisdom. Namaste 🤓🙏🏻

Wonderful. It is my intention to listen to this for at least ten days or more. It fits me. Thank you. Namaste.

I will focus on knowing the difference between what I can/can't change.

Thanks so much for your lovely meditation. May the joy be with you. Nàmaste