Forceful currents of change drive corrections in life

Changes can be good. Changes can be bad. It depends on what currents drive the changes and where the process takes you.

People don’t like to be corrected because correction requires change. What if small course corrections could embrace forceful currents, pushing against us, creating changes over time? This is more than epidemic transmission, it’s understanding how to live beyond forceful currents. Conquering currents in our lives allows us to embrace changes, make corrections and befriend fearful forces capable of driving processes taking us places we never dreamed.

I grew up a long way from the beach. The ocean is amazing. The force and power of one angry wave is enough to make you tremble. The first time I stood in front of the ocean, an angry 17-year-old runaway, I was afraid. Why? I was a good swimmer.

It was books I feared. As a 10th grade dropout, I was reading on a fourth-grade level. But I love the water, so what was the problem?

This wasn’t Lake Ray Hubbard, this was the Atlantic Ocean. I eventually swam in the ocean, made mistakes bodyboarding and became a mediocre longboard surfer.

There are many dangers in the ocean, but there’s one thing you better understand for sure — learning how to time waves in a wipe out is imperative.

When a huge wave wipes you out, the magnitude of the force pushes down and your first instinct is to try to swim against the wave back to the surface. That’s a huge mistake as the force of the currents are too powerful for anyone.

So what should you do to keep from drowning? Embrace the process in the timing of the waves.

Waves typically come in sets with breaks in between. When big waves wipe you out and push you under, just relax allowing the full force of the wave to force you down. When you feel the force subside and start to rise, quickly swim up as the wave has passed over and you’ve entered the break. Upon resurfacing, you can try again.

An ocean wave is a powerful force. When you catch one and ride it out, it’s an amazing experience.

Surfing is a blast once you’ve mastered making the small course corrections enabling proper navigation of the waves. Receiving corrections from others and making small adjustments is the difference between making good and bad changes.

I’m a rugged individual, but the fear of those waves were forceful currents of change driving me to seek corrections allowing me to surf. I didn’t surf immediately, but I did boogie board. And then, little by little, one small correction after another, I eventually surfed on a eight-foot Bear longboard.

My education process was a lot like surfing.

I was already a good swimmer, but never had seen an 8-foot wave before. I was afraid of the ocean. I was afraid of education because I was unable to read on grade level. But what if reading was like riding ocean waves? Lots of small corrections placing you on top of one of the most powerful natural forces in the world?

My first small course correction was receiving my GED and enrolling in college near the ocean where I could surf. The next corrections were transferring to a university in Texas. After graduating, the next correction was at University of Phoe­nix, then Southwestern, then a double masters at Pillsbury College and Seminary followed by a doctoral degree in clinical pastoral counseling. Currently, I’m engaged in correspondent courses receiving additional training from The Center for Cognitive Behavior Therapy.

Education is the most fearful wave I’ve ever faced. You have to learn to talk with the locals if you’re going to stand up and ride the waves. Education is a powerful force, but it doesn’t have to drown you.

Becoming a lifelong learner is about accepting corrections and making little changes over time. Eliminating your fear of the wipe out providing you with the understanding of how to embrace the process of timing the waves. Once you stand upand experience the powerful force of an educational wave you’ll find yourself checking the surf report and showing up to catch waves that will take you places.

People don’t change because they’re afraid. They’re afraid because they’re uneducated about how to embrace the power of the wave.

Knowledge is power correcting our misunder­standings about the forces of waves. Understanding empowers us to time the waves of life and gives us wisdom to put our fears into proper perspective. Correct your mistakes.

Continue making the small changes over time. Embrace the process of timing the waves and you’ll eventually master riding out a big wave. Surfs up!