Cultivating Change

quickthink.beehiiv.com | Chase Brandt | 5/21/2024 | #2

Hi everyone!

Welcome to Quick Think, the newsletter where I discuss a primary idea, share something positive, recommend a piece of media I enjoy, and finish with a quote.

This week, I’m going to discuss change¹. Change, I believe, is one of life’s few certainties. Grasping a better understanding of change and possessing a skillset to use it to our advantage can be empowering.

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Cultivating Change

There isn’t a part of our world that’s not constantly changing. From the condition of our emotions to the shape of a cloud, change is everywhere. Whenever we ponder a new idea, the way we perceive the world slightly shifts. Eating a meal not only transforms the food, but it also alters the chemical makeup of our bodies. When a friend moves across the country, the structure of your social network is shaken up forever. 

Change is bound to happen, most of it out of our control, yet too often, it brings fear into our lives. A simple tool to overcoming the fear of change, which applies to most walks of life, is understanding that worrying about what we cannot control is mindless. Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus says, “It is not in our control to have everything turn out exactly as we want, but it is in our control to control how we respond to what happens.” In other words, feeling afraid when change inevitably enters our lives prevents us from using it productively. 

What does using change to our advantage look like? Rather than associating it with feelings like fear, we can use it as an opportunity to grow and appreciate new things. If you are starting at a new school and don’t love the person you were before, use the new setting to recreate your identity and surround yourself with people who better align with your values. Notice your parents growing older? Start expressing more gratitude while you can. Welcoming change with an open mind leads to profound growth, but what about the change we can control?

One of the most empowering realizations I have come to is how easily we, as humans, can change ourselves. As long as I am alive and healthy, there will never be a moment when I can’t alter my habits, environment, identity, beliefs, or even how I perceive reality. Viewed from this perspective, change becomes liberating. Knowing that we can change ourselves for the better at any moment allows a sense of peace and optimism to enter our lives.

Positivity

Violent Crime Continues to Fall in the US

According to the FBI, in 1990, 729.6 out of every 100,000 citizens were involved in a violent crime in the United States. In 2022, that number fell to 369.8. If you take a step back from the daily news and look at the bigger picture, incredible progress is being made.

Media

Book: Meditations - Marcus Aurelius

Meditaitons is a collection of journal entries from Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Today, Mediations is viewed as a book with timeless stoic advice, but Marcus didn’t write it to share it. When Marcus ruled the world, instead of being tyrannical or oppressive, he would spend time reflecting upon things we contemplate today, such as how small we are in the world and the difficulty of getting out of bed in the morning. After dying, Marcus’ journals were collected and turned into Meditations, a short yet powerful read that provides a beautiful perspective on life.²

Quote

“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river, and he's not the same man.” - Epictetus

Thanks for taking the time to read. Have a wonderful week.

-Chase

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