How Yoga Can Help You Cope with Change

Change is inevitable.

We all know this on an intellectual level, but it is funny how on a more subconscious level we tend to resist change and cling to things and expect them to stay the same. This causes us no end of anxiety and frustration.

In today’s world change is happening at a faster and faster pace. Not only that, but we are more aware that this change is happening.

Social media, new bulletins, endless internet feeds bombard us with information – always about some change or other.

We inevitably either link this change back to ourselves (we are ultimately pretty self centred!) and how it will or might impact us, our loved ones or on a more compassionate note, other people (or animals).

The pandemic is a good example of this, where many of us have experienced real change, plus the anxiety of what these changes will mean for us.

Personally I am generally quite comfortable with some change.

Being sent to a school on the other side of the world at the age of 9, (not even knowing the language) meant that from a young age I had to learn and adapt and live with change.

Also different personality types tend to cope with changes better than others and I think I am lucky to be open to change.

On the flip side this openness, or even desire for change can have it’s own challenges.

Some people crave stability, security and to be in control of what does and doesn’t change (my partner relates to this).

Unfortunately the world does not work like that and change will happen whether they like it or not!

For those of us who enjoy or even seek out change, we can often be disappointed when we make a change we have been looking forward to or planning for ages (new job, new car, new house etc) and they don’t live up to our expectations.

We build these fantasies around our desire for these changes and the amazing life they are going to give us, then when we get what we want it isn’t quite what we had hoped! Sound familiar?

So how can Yoga help us deal with change?

First we need to accept that change is inevitable.

Look at the seasons, people growing older, McDonalds launching a new type of burger. Everything changes and we need to learn to be cool with that.

One way we can do this is to try and build some stability and grounding in our lives.

This will make us more open to other changes and also provide us space to reflect on what we really need and want.

For me, my daily Yoga practice (or Sadhana – spiritual practice as I like to call it) provides that stability and grounding to face whatever changes the day may throw at me. It also gives me time to reflect upon the bigger decisions I need to make in my life.

How the 4 Great Goals of Life can help us deal with change

In Vedic philosophy, there are 4 Great Goals of Life – Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha.

These are the 4 goals of life that we need to balance to allow us to cope and deal with change in a thoughtful and practical way, in order to ultimately live a fulfilling, purposeful life.

Dharma – living according to your inner purpose

Dharma is the purpose that you have come into this life to fulfil and reflect your Karmas (actions) from previous lives.

There are essentially 3 Dharmas – your personal Dharma, your social Dharma and your duty to the universe as a whole.

Discovering your Dharma and living your Dharma on a daily basis will give you a good foundation for attaining inner-peace and provide you with the ability to deal and adapt to changes.

Artha – establishing goals and values that promote and provide for your Dharma

This can include ensuring you have enough wealth to provide stability for you and your family, allowing you to cope and adapt to change. But greed and over-grasping must be avoided.

Your wealth must also be created by means that do no harm to others. It’s also important to remember that wealth should be used to promote higher causes and not just for personal enjoyment.

Kama – finding happiness and joy in what you do based upon your Dharma

By following your Dharma you will be able to derive pleasure from what you do. This pleasure will help guide you and keep you focussed on your Dharma, but it should not be pursued for its own sake. It’s about taking joy in what you do and how you can help others.

Moksha – gaining the freedom of consciousness from letting go of the ego and your attachment to the outside world

In the modern world, we are all seeking freedom in life – whether that’s wanting to do what we want, go where we want to, and appear as we like.

But true freedom is not simply the freedom to have your desire met, but freedom from the pain and burden of desire, the freedom from the outer world. True freedom can only be found in self-awareness.

It is not about the freedom to DO, but the freedom to BE.

When you release the attachment to your desire in the outside world, you are able to experience changes free from anxiety and frustration.

I know it’s easier said than done! This is why your daily meditation can be very beneficial as it can help you develop self-awareness.

So hopefully this blog has provided you with some reassurance that, even if you struggle with change, by deepening your Yoga practice there is a way to make accepting and dealing with change easier.

Remember – the only constant is change. So recognize it, embrace it and move on!