Volcanoes in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean formed the Galapagos Islands. Being composed of cooled lava, they began with no “native” living things at all. Species that now thrive on these islands originally arrived by accident on boats, air currents, or bits of driftwood carried by the ocean currents. The strong ones survived and, over time, genetically adapted to this harsh environment. They survived because they “learned” how to navigate in an unfamiliar world. A world with limited fresh water and food; a world where even their instincts were forced to adapt. That got me thinking about our own human capacity to adapt.
Have you ever found yourself in completely unfamiliar territory? Maybe a divorce, death, retirement, or relocation removed your familiar anchors. Maybe an injury or diagnosis erased your dreams or forced you to choose another life direction . Or, maybe you simply realized that your youth is behind you and your body no longer does what it once did! How did you cope? Did you inwardly suffer and resent the new circumstance? Did you blame or get outwardly angry? Did you get busy and try to “fix” things? Did any of those relieve your discomfort? Those can help you feel more “in control” in the short term, but they aren’t the same as “adapting”.
Eventually, we all get tested by uncharted life territories. And while those “tests” may not endanger our ability to survive, they can limit our ability to thrive (i.e. enjoy a richly satisfying life). What if you decided right now to EVOLVE through life…NO MATTER WHAT! You can, IF you develop your capacity to adapt. After all, life is change. In fact, it’s the one thing that we all have in common and it will be with all of us until we die. You might as well learn strategies that will prepare you! Practice intentionally adapting to minor changes, and you’ll develop the resilience you need to grow through any life circumstance. That’s right, you can actually evolve through change. And, unlike the creatures in the Galapagos, your evolution can take place in your lifetime!
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