Death is change, obviously. A living thing becomes a nonliving thing. It’s easy to see.
What’s not always easy to see is that change, even good change, involves death. The situation/relationship/job/season that was no longer is. That death has to be processed. The processing of death – even in good change – is something we call ‘grief’.
It would be silly (and insensitive) to talk about the grief of leaving your old job for a great new job. But it’s not silly to understand that what you are experiencing is on the same spectrum as what you experience when you lose someone close to you.
Knowing that change = death helps you understand when you have emotions that seem weird or inappropriate for your situation. You’re processing a death. You’re going to feel weird things. It’s okay.
Knowing that change = death helps you become more comfortable and skilful with change. You recognise the processing, the weird emotions and the time they take as a necessary part of change. They are no longer surprising. You can help ease yourself gracefully through change.
This could divide opinion. Stick with it for the ending.
Grow slowly
Jeff
Very Buddhist, my friend. The concept of impermanence has been a life-changing one for me, especially as I get older
Well you made me change my opinion on what I just mentioned… about experiencing a good belief shift that didn’t stem from grief. I also want to do a better job of acknowledging that grief isn’t always sadness. It can be awkward, it can be relief, it can even be funny.