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January 2009 
Everything Changes! Fundamental Principles of Change No. 5
Posted on Jul 24th, 2008
by 
dannyboy
dannyboy
Yes, Lois, the multiplicity of actions engaged in by human beings everywhere has a spiraling effect that sooner or later produces the perception of change. Our actions are exemplified in everything from global capitalism to the local landfill. The bad news is we are responsible for change. The good news is we are responsible for change. Why, you ask, is that good news? It means we have a choice; once we begin to associate our actions with change we create a new space in which to start consciously recognizing there are consequences in every action.
But before we condem ourselves completely, let's take a look at what else creates the perception of change. Any ideas?
What else Acts?
Q: This begs the question: what else acts? Are we the only ones capable of creating the perception of change?
Animals
Q: Do animals act? What are some things animals do?
Q: Is there anything animals do that aren't actions?
A: No--like us the physical bodies of animals are constantly in motion.
Q: If animals act, are they capable of creating the perceived awareness of change?
A: Yes--think of deer in your flower beds or garden, moles in your yard…etc.
Plants
Q: Ok, how about vegetation, do plants and trees act? What are some examples of how plants or trees act?
Examples: Plants and trees have a life cycle--they grow and die. Photosynthesis--the process by which green plants convert the sun's energy into food, a process that absorbs carbon dioxide and gives off oxygen.
Q: Is there anything that plants and trees do that can't be seen as actions?
A: No--as living organisms they are continually in motion.
Q: If plants and trees act, are they capable of creating the perceived awareness of change?
A: Yes--think of how small plants and trees grow into big ones, how weeds multiply…etc.
Minerals
Q: Well, what about minerals--rock formations, mountains, sand and soil, do these things act?
A: Perhaps not as overtly as humans, animals and plants, but through interaction with the elements, movement is created: dirt and rocks slide off hills, wind and water create erosion.
Q: If rocks, minerals and mountains show action, are these things capable of creating the perception of change?
A: Yes--but typically over longer periods of time. Sometimes, however, immediate changes are created by slides, earthquakes, volcanic activity, etc.
Q: Does anything else act? What else has the capacity to create perceived change?
Elements and Weather Systems
A: A minute ago, we mentioned the elements--wind, water, fire, all have the capacity to create change. As do weather systems.
Q: Would anyone like to argue that weather systems don't create the perception of
change?
S: Everything in existence exhibits some kind of movement--this movement contributes to our perception of change. We might observe that as we progress from minerals to plants, and from animals to human beings, that the actions of each successive group are easier to see. Of course, there are some significant differences between humans and animals, plants and minerals. First is our ability to think--to be self aware, and then to turn our thoughts into physical creations. But the more active we become the less time it takes to create the perception of change. Increasing our understanding of the role we play in creating change is one of the reasons for this course.
Continuous Action
Q: So, if everyone and everything that acts has the potential to create the perception of change, shouldn't we be overwhelmed with the billions upon billions of actions that take place everyday?
A: Theoretically, perhaps. But remember that we are most likely to identify with the
perception of change when it impacts us directly. For example, in watching the news there's always something happening locally, nationally and globally that reflects change. But unless something pertaining to these events affects us or those close to us, we're only likely to perceive change in a generalized form.
S: Another reason we're not overwhelmed with all this action is because many of our individual actions are aimed at keeping things the same. We interact with our surrounding environment to maintain a sense of control and this frequently means actions designed to keep things unchanged.
S: Remember our breathing demonstration, the autonomic response system maintains our breathing and keeps us in a state of equilibrium. When we tried to hold our breath we were upsetting the balance and the autonomic response forces us back into equilibrium. The action of each breath creates an effect that sustains us--our perception is of no change. Only when we're not breathing does the perception of change impact us.
Q: Let's take another example: Suppose you stopped providing food and water for your pet. What would happen?
S: Here again, our normal actions are designed to maintain equilibrium. When we stop the action that sustains our pet the effect is very likely to produce a perceived change. For example, your pet may start spending all its time over at the neighbor's because they are providing the food and water necessary for it to sustain itself.
Q: How many of you set an alarm clock to get up in the morning? Why do you do that?
A: Most likely to prevent unwanted changes that could result from oversleeping. Those effects could range in magnitude from relatively minor--having to skip breakfast, to a bigger problem such as losing your job for not showing up on time.
S: The point of these examples is that while every action produces an effect and thereby creates the potential for perceived change, many of our actions are directed at creating effects that will keep things as they are--at preventing consequences that trigger the perception of change.
Key Concept: Though every action creates an effect, our perception is attuned to changes that create undesired or adverse effects for us, or those we care about.
Summary
Q: Ok, so what do we know? Let's review the main points that we've uncovered so far.
Note to reader: Thanks for reading! In the next blog we begin Part Two--How Change Imacts Us. It will be titled: Everything Changes! How Change Impacts Us No. 6. Please feel free to share your comments or questions.
Copyright 2008. The information here is reproduced from Everything Changes! Understanding and Dealing with the Change in our Lives. It is provided for your personal use. The material may not be reproduced, copied or used in any other way without written permission from the author, Dan Richardson.
But before we condem ourselves completely, let's take a look at what else creates the perception of change. Any ideas?
What else Acts?
Q: This begs the question: what else acts? Are we the only ones capable of creating the perception of change?
Animals
Q: Do animals act? What are some things animals do?
Q: Is there anything animals do that aren't actions?
A: No--like us the physical bodies of animals are constantly in motion.
Q: If animals act, are they capable of creating the perceived awareness of change?
A: Yes--think of deer in your flower beds or garden, moles in your yard…etc.
Plants
Q: Ok, how about vegetation, do plants and trees act? What are some examples of how plants or trees act?
Examples: Plants and trees have a life cycle--they grow and die. Photosynthesis--the process by which green plants convert the sun's energy into food, a process that absorbs carbon dioxide and gives off oxygen.
Q: Is there anything that plants and trees do that can't be seen as actions?
A: No--as living organisms they are continually in motion.
Q: If plants and trees act, are they capable of creating the perceived awareness of change?
A: Yes--think of how small plants and trees grow into big ones, how weeds multiply…etc.
Minerals
Q: Well, what about minerals--rock formations, mountains, sand and soil, do these things act?
A: Perhaps not as overtly as humans, animals and plants, but through interaction with the elements, movement is created: dirt and rocks slide off hills, wind and water create erosion.
Q: If rocks, minerals and mountains show action, are these things capable of creating the perception of change?
A: Yes--but typically over longer periods of time. Sometimes, however, immediate changes are created by slides, earthquakes, volcanic activity, etc.
Q: Does anything else act? What else has the capacity to create perceived change?
Elements and Weather Systems
A: A minute ago, we mentioned the elements--wind, water, fire, all have the capacity to create change. As do weather systems.
Q: Would anyone like to argue that weather systems don't create the perception of
change?
S: Everything in existence exhibits some kind of movement--this movement contributes to our perception of change. We might observe that as we progress from minerals to plants, and from animals to human beings, that the actions of each successive group are easier to see. Of course, there are some significant differences between humans and animals, plants and minerals. First is our ability to think--to be self aware, and then to turn our thoughts into physical creations. But the more active we become the less time it takes to create the perception of change. Increasing our understanding of the role we play in creating change is one of the reasons for this course.
Continuous Action
Q: So, if everyone and everything that acts has the potential to create the perception of change, shouldn't we be overwhelmed with the billions upon billions of actions that take place everyday?
A: Theoretically, perhaps. But remember that we are most likely to identify with the
perception of change when it impacts us directly. For example, in watching the news there's always something happening locally, nationally and globally that reflects change. But unless something pertaining to these events affects us or those close to us, we're only likely to perceive change in a generalized form.
S: Another reason we're not overwhelmed with all this action is because many of our individual actions are aimed at keeping things the same. We interact with our surrounding environment to maintain a sense of control and this frequently means actions designed to keep things unchanged.
S: Remember our breathing demonstration, the autonomic response system maintains our breathing and keeps us in a state of equilibrium. When we tried to hold our breath we were upsetting the balance and the autonomic response forces us back into equilibrium. The action of each breath creates an effect that sustains us--our perception is of no change. Only when we're not breathing does the perception of change impact us.
Q: Let's take another example: Suppose you stopped providing food and water for your pet. What would happen?
S: Here again, our normal actions are designed to maintain equilibrium. When we stop the action that sustains our pet the effect is very likely to produce a perceived change. For example, your pet may start spending all its time over at the neighbor's because they are providing the food and water necessary for it to sustain itself.
Q: How many of you set an alarm clock to get up in the morning? Why do you do that?
A: Most likely to prevent unwanted changes that could result from oversleeping. Those effects could range in magnitude from relatively minor--having to skip breakfast, to a bigger problem such as losing your job for not showing up on time.
S: The point of these examples is that while every action produces an effect and thereby creates the potential for perceived change, many of our actions are directed at creating effects that will keep things as they are--at preventing consequences that trigger the perception of change.
Key Concept: Though every action creates an effect, our perception is attuned to changes that create undesired or adverse effects for us, or those we care about.
Summary
Q: Ok, so what do we know? Let's review the main points that we've uncovered so far.
- Everything in the universe operates under the laws of cause and effect.
- Change illustrates the relationship between cause and effect.
- Change is our perception of the difference between what was and what is.
- In an environment of continuous cause and effect, every effect simultaneously becomes a new cause.
- Cause can also be described as an act, or action.
- From our exercise we determined that everything we do is an action.
- People, animals, plants, minerals...everything demonstrates various forms of continuous motion. This movement is what creates the perceived awareness of change.
- Every action produces an effect, but our actions are often intended to maintain the status quo--to keep things as they are. Many of our actions are aimed at preventing the perception of change.
Note to reader: Thanks for reading! In the next blog we begin Part Two--How Change Imacts Us. It will be titled: Everything Changes! How Change Impacts Us No. 6. Please feel free to share your comments or questions.
Copyright 2008. The information here is reproduced from Everything Changes! Understanding and Dealing with the Change in our Lives. It is provided for your personal use. The material may not be reproduced, copied or used in any other way without written permission from the author, Dan Richardson.
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