Start A Revolution — Change

The Thinker

Always embrace change

“Change is the only constant.” — Heraclitus, pioneering Greek philosopher

As recently as 1800, China was on equal footing with the Western world. In fact, for 18 of the last 20 centuries, China’s GDP was the largest in the world. And then it changed. From 1800 onwards China’s economy began to stagnate and decline. After dozens of decades of decline, China’s fortune changed yet again. In the 1970s, Chinese revolutionary and statesman Deng Xiaoping unleashed economic reforms and reverted China’s trajectory. Since then China has been climbing to the top, challenging the United States as a global superpower. In the history of the world change is the only constant. Things never stay the same. Empires rise and fall. Generations come and go. The only thing that we know for sure is that things are going to change.

As I approached finishing school my life was still the same. I hadn’t changed as much as I wanted. I was aware that I needed to change my life, but I wasn’t quite sure how. If I had changed in the past, I thought, I could change again. I began embracing change. Slowly my spirit returned and although my outside situation didn’t change immediately, I began working toward a new future. My dream of going to America slowly took shape, and with every step I became more optimistic toward the future. When I began to see results, even when they came in slowly, I learned first-hand how change was possible. After trials and errors, I set out on a journey that would re-shape my entire life.

Understanding that life always changes is an obvious but important aspect of living a more empowered and emboldened life. Everything around you is changing all the time. It is an encouraging thought that you have the power to change any situation. It keeps you humble when things are going well and hopeful when things are not going your way.

This is an extract from Patrick Daniel’s forthcoming book ‘The Thinker’, out in early 2017.