No fear of change

"Life is change." - "The only constant in life is change." These are well-known words that are often spoken as if to banish a threat. Yes, change means challenge, triggers reservations, and perhaps even fears in many. As early as the 19th century, the acceleration of living conditions caused shockwaves for many people. Meanwhile, the speed at which our private and professional lives are changing has even intensified. Change "lurks" everywhere, permeating our entire lives. What may seem firmly established one day may no longer hold true the next. Are we physically and mentally capable of coping with the tremendous pace of life? Experts know that the answer is ambivalent. On the one hand, we have become accustomed to this pace, possibly even finding it fascinating, getting excited and carried away, or becoming driving forces of ever faster change ourselves. On the other hand, the enormous centrifugal forces to which we are exposed take their toll: overwhelm, stress, fears, depression, and even burnout. The numbers are alarming. Many affected individuals also suffer physical illnesses as a result. The fragility of interpersonal and familial relationships, job insecurity, existential fears, and the constant pressure of change - these issues affect many more than they may be willing to admit. However, even changes that we actively seek, perhaps even long for, often pose tough challenges for us - the resistance we face within ourselves can be overwhelming. It is precisely these seemingly overpowering forces of resistance within us that make the changes around us appear even more threatening. "Life belongs to the living, and those who live must be prepared for change," wrote Goethe. And a Chinese proverb says, "When the winds of change blow, some build walls, while others build windmills." Andreas Herz has been living by the Chinese proverb "If the day was not your friend, then it was your teacher" since his cancer diagnosis and faces changes with this attitude.