Change is a 'constant' for happiness or wisdom

“𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘥𝘰𝘮”

人一定要经常变，谁会一直快乐或明智

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 is maybe one of the most powerful characteristics of Chinese society and an important reason that Chinese civilization has existed since thousands of years. 变 (Biàn) or change is a kind of constant trembling nerve in Chinese culture which everyone is feeling. Sometimes making people restless, other times making people excited or resilient. And when the nerve is calm too long, people will make moves to start trembling again.

In Western societies change is regularly seen as undesirable and fought against, striving for stability and staying in control. Though in China change is often sought after to improve and find better or new ways. Not only sought after but also accepting change if it is out of the influence sphere, or even embracing change in some kinds of way as the change should have happened for a reason.

The Book of Changes, 易經 Yi Jing, is one of the oldest Chinese classic texts (1000-750BC) and one of the first efforts of the human mind to place itself within the universe.

Inciting change can stimulate among others innovation and learning. Accepting change requires adaptation, flexibility and resilience. Change is a natural aspect of our environment and habitat, many changes are out of our control, whether it is from nature or by other people. People can also incite change in themselves or in their environment but again it is still then in the process about adaptation and innovation.

Cultures of on one hand accepting change or on the other hand fighting change brings out different emotions, mindsets, decisions and actions in people. It is interesting to consider about this cross-cultural awareness in business or other kinds of collaborations between different cultures. Which impacts do the differences in people’s perspective towards change have in these collaborations ?

A common saying in China offering condolences to people who lost their loved one; 节哀 顺变 “Don’t be sad, embrace the change.”

#crossculturalawareness #crosscultural #change #china #chineseculture #chinesesociety