Rolling with the Changes - Part 3
“Come gather 'round, people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth savin'
And you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin.”
Never before in my life have I seen the truth behind Bob Dylan’s words. From our politics to social norms, everything around us is in a state of rapid flux.While this series of posts are focused on changes in the music education field, I remain convinced that the principles discussed are applicable in any area of life where things seem uncertain. The first principle we discussed was that “The way we have always done it” is NOT the way we have always done it. We must avoid inflexible thinking at all costs. Principle number 2 is closely related to this idea.
Principle Number 2 - Proactive is better than reactive.
Change is inevitable. Things do not stay the same, and if we are unable or unwilling to adapt, we will not weather the changes well. In light of that reality, we should have both eyes open and seek to understand the changes that are coming our way. As we observe the world around us, listen deeply to the world we are walking in, and reflect with our communities about what lies ahead, we are better able to accurately anticipate changes as they are happening.
In that moment, as the shift is approaching, we have two options. We can dig in and hang on while the change sweeps over us, or we can adjust our sails to take advantage of the approaching winds. Being proactive is about taking control of the things we can control and making small adjustments in advance of the circumstances. Proactive action requires us to be honest with ourselves about what we can impact and what we cannot, and then we get busy doing what we can. Being proactive forces us to take responsibility for our lives rather than being a passive bystander while things happen to us.
If we take the reactive approach, we resign ourselves to placing blame and living a life that is overwhelmed. It sets us on the path of the downward spiral. The result is a false feeling of powerlessness and despair.
In order to roll with the changes, we must be willing to take the risk of being proactive. Even if we are wrong about our assessments and the anticipated changes do not happen, we will still find ourselves in a flexible, fluid position as we seek to deal with our new situation. Full disclosure: I am still working on this. You should too.
