I read a poem recently about how oysters transform irritating sand into beautiful pearls, and it got me thinking about Thich Nhat Hanh’s teaching that we can transform anger into peace through our breath and consciousness. Is it possible for we who are trying to receive to transform what we already have into what we need or desire? As I reflect on this, it seems that transformation is not only possible, it is often exactly how good things come to us.
Take an area near and dear to me, one that many people have desires around – wellness. We each have only one body to work with, and although we can have an organ or joint replaced, the vast majority of changes that occur with health come through transforming what we have. People create whole new bodies through weight loss and exercise. They develop strong limbs, healthy hearts and lungs, and improved mental abilities by making changes in life style. Physical transformation is what personal trainers and healthcare professionals are all about.
Let’s look at relationships. Yes, if a romance or friendship isn’t working out, we can seek new people to connect with. Parents, siblings, and children are another matter though. If I polled my therapist friends, I’m sure I would be inundated with examples of people who created more positive, loving relationships with family members. With help, these clients learned to alter their thoughts, words, and actions, powerfully transforming their interactions with loved ones, including spouses. For years I read a column in Ladies Home Journal called “Can This Marriage Be Saved?” and most of the time the answer was “yes!”
How about finances? Financial analysts would be eager to point out how the right investment vehicles over time can transform the savings we have into the funds we need. Likewise, collectors see their treasures transformed in value just by the passage of time. As a management consultant and human resources professional, I’ve worked with dozens of people who have developed their jobs into positions of greater responsibility and value. By enhancing their skills and identifying opportunities for their organizations, they were able to carve out a new role or higher level position for themselves.
How can we receive what we need or desire through transformation? Begin now, where you are, with what you have. Do an inventory of all your assets – I’m not referring to financial assets, although you would include those, too. Think about your network, education, possessions, experience, skills, and knowledge. List the organs in your body that do work; that’s likely to be a much longer list than those giving you a challenge at the moment. What strengths of character, personality and traits do you possess?
As you make these lists, take time to be grateful for every entry, because what we appreciate appreciates. That means that your acknowledging and being thankful for what you already have will pave the way for even greater good to come your way. Expect new insights, ideas, and opportunities to flow to you, as that’s how transformation begins. Embrace transformation, and you’ll be on your way to receiving with grace and ease.