I once heard a friend telling me that the only thing in life that is constant is change. Strange as it may seem, we find it hard to accept this and we find that when it comes to change we resist this the most. It raises our stress levels and no matter how huge or small the change is, it affects us all the time. We have heard a person say many a time “I wish things could have been the same” whether it is at work, children, or the home and I am sure you will be able to think of many other instances when you would have hoped that things remain the same.

Have we ever considered that without change things cannot improve or get better. Change allows for growth. We dislike moving house. It stresses us when we have a new job or even a new boss. I’m sure you can think of a few aspects of your own life you would like to remain just the same and never change. Ironically, without change, nothing can get any better. Look at the life of our beloved Rasulullah SAW, how he had to leave his birth place settling in a new environment in Medina Munnawarah wherein he created a dynamic Islamic society.

“For many years of my own life I resisted change. I was comfortable with my life and didn’t want to upset the balance. Little did I know that in order to grow and develop in life I had to embrace change and transform myself.” This is a plea or cry that one hears quite often.

Let us look into the creations of Allah Ta’ala and find lessons and inspirations to help us to allay our fears. Through metamorphosis the caterpillar changes into a butterfly. What a glorious and miraculous transformation! It’s difficult to imagine this taking place without pain or discomfort, but the end result is spectacular. The most wonderful aspect is that in its wildest dreams, the caterpillar cannot foresee what it will change into. It is only by going through the process that it acquires the ability and beauty to fly and attains the grace and beauty of a butterfly.

One can spot the life lessons learnt in this metaphor of the caterpillar and the butterfly. Be willing to change: Change starts with your own willingness to transform yourself to become a better human being. Know that change is inevitable; every moment of every day, everything changes, you cannot exclude yourself from this law of the universe, whether it is the weather, the temperature, the conditions in the environment etc. Know that change is a process; this ongoing process is not something one can force – it happens the way it happens.

Trust; the one value you can adopt to help move you through the process of transformation i.e. to trust that everything will work out the way its supposed to. (Through the will of Allah Ta’ala) Look forward to growth; through the process of change, whether it is painful or not, the most valuable result is that you will grow and develop as a person.

The challenge is to embrace change. Step up to this challenge and transform yourself from the ordinary to the extraordinary.

Enjoy the process!!!!