Recently, I have been doing some science tests on every topic related to Science, starting from biology and ending up with astronomy. It was about 70 questions. Question #52 caught my eyes, and surprisingly inspired me to write this blog post.

This question was about Charles Darwin evolutionary theory. We all know Charles Darwin was a British naturalist who achieved lasting fame by outlining the theory of evolution and proposing that evolution could be explained through natural and sexual selection. Prompted by awareness that Alfred Russel Wallace was developing similar theories he published his own sooner than he had originally intended. This theory is now considered an integral component of biological science.

This is the question that opened my mind and widened my eyes: What species would likely to survive?  

  -          The most intelligent 
  -          The strongest
  -          The most adaptive

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change" 
— Charles Darwin

Obviously the most adaptable! This question alerted me to think not only about the animal’s species that will survive, but also the dominating  Homo sapiens “ humans”.  

One of the most essential life skills a person can have is the ability to adapt to change.  An adaptive individual is one who is able to refocus the mind in new directions and make choices based on his or her desired outcomes.  However, adapting to change is difficult for most people due to the fact that humans are creatures of habit; having to change our patterns and behaviors is frustrating and annoying, and takes us out of our comfort zone.  But developing the skills necessary to adapt to change can have powerful outcomes, including self‐improvement, ongoing learning, and a higher level of personal and work achievement.  

Those who are ready to change and adapt to new environments, especially in this fast moving world, will be able to survive. Change is coming whether we like it or not, some people welcome change and find ways to turn the unexpected into an opportunity for growth. Others become frightened and simply react. How we handle the inevitable changes in life is the key to living a life without fear.

 Those who are not ready to adapt will be left alone and forgotten. On the other hand, when you see a 50 year old who is always prepared to change, long-term thinker and tracking the most technological development, you will, without hesitation, be surprised.

Traditionally, when you turn 40, maybe a little older, you will be considered to be “Old school” or what generation now describes it to be “Not Cool.”  You should keep up with the world around you. Don’t think of limits like “I’m too old to change,” instead, start thinking of adapting into the world as we know it today, a fast and changing map every day.

Charles Darwin didn’t say the strongest or fittest of the species will survive, he said those who response to change most efficiently will survive. I say those who lead change would do more than survive, they would thrive.

When you want to change any area in your life, you should master the mechanics of change. Sometimes, change might be dictated from the outside and it will force itself on you. Like a disease, you will try to fight it and protect yourself from it, but at last you will respond. Life is a mystery, it requires us to adapt to change and also create change. This process of creation begins inside you, but it manifests in what you do. The way to change your life is to change your behavior. Yes, it may start with our thoughts and beliefs.

Think of it as brushing your teeth. If you brushed your teeth once, they will get rotten. In order for your teeth to stay white, healthy and strong you’ve got to brush them every day. To adapt to change, you’ll need to brush your teeth every day, in other words, be ready to change always.

I’m so disappoint to see people saying “Oh, I can’t change that! “Force of habit!” well, if you think about it, habits aren’t determined by the quality of our character; our character is determined by the quality of our habits. For instance, biting nails is a widespread habit; however, whether you like it or not you will stop someday! Or smoking etc…

What I love about habits is that they’re automatic. Sure replacing a habit can be a challenge but once you have, you don’t need to think about it. Habits are the brains own autopilot system. When they kick in, what a pleasure, you can sit back and enjoy the ride. If a habit is unpleasant, rude or bad, you ought to replace it by lovely, agreeable and skillful one.

Nonetheless, there are rules for everything and even for change. The simplest and the vital rule is to change yourself first, Mahatma Gandhi said “You must change the world you wish to see.” Take action and lead the change. Not everything you face in life can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it’s faced.

In conclusion, if you finish changing then you’re finished… literally. Progress is impossible without change. If a snake can change its skin, and the tree replaces its dead leaves, then it’s a “must” to keep changing in order to survive.

John F Kennedy said “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”

….. Don’t miss the future…. Change….