Often when the winds of change blow, they can change the landscape of our environment. Sand and soil may be pushed into hills, and over time, mountains. Rivers may be redirected, and lakes may, over time, form. Whereas the wind has stopped blowing, its effects may create a lasting impression. In these cases, we have two choices: we may grow or we may decay. Living, healthy things, such as trees, animals, and people, grow and evolve. Inert, non-living things, such as stones and sticks, decay. Wash running water over a seed and watch what happens…it grows. Wash running water over a stone and what happens? It erodes.
Growth and Evolution is a continual process of change by which a seemingly lower and simpler state or condition is transformed into a higher, more complex state. A healthy body or any other organization always allows for change to cause growth and evolution. On the other hand, an unhealthy body decays and eventually ceases to exist.
Evolution and growth is nothing more than a long-term adaptive response. An example of this would be the experience of muscle building as a result of weight training. The act of lifting heavy weights over and over is actually perceived by the body as a danger or crisis. These heavy weights place stress on the muscles, bones, ligaments, and joints. In order to protect itself, the body builds more muscle tissue in order to prepare itself for future experiences of such stress. If we continue to work out regularly, frequently increasing the weight as we get stronger, this process will continue indefinitely.
What differs in this situation from the previously mentioned adaptive response, is that now the body is stronger, more effective, and more efficient, even after the stress is gone. Recognizing this, theoretically, the body says, “I am stronger, more effective, and more efficient as a result of this adaptation…this one’s a keeper.”
Another example of this would be that of sun-tanning. The darkening of the skin as a result of laying in the sun is a healthy response of the body producing more melanin in the skin. Melanin is a pigmented protein that protects the skin from the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation. The tanning of the skin is caused not by the sun’s rays, but by an adaptation produced by the body in response to the exposure of ultraviolet light. If the exposure to sunlight is continuous and frequent, like muscle building, this adaptation will become permanent.
Whereas the Response Ability of Adaptation is necessary to protect us from sudden changes that may be damaging or even deadly, the Response Ability of Evolution, whereas not as urgent, is necessary for the long-term survival of our species, and life in general, on our planet. Through this ability we can learn from our experiences and become stronger, wiser, and more effective as a species. This process is perpetual and is responsible for our human family moving from the primitive existence as an ape to the spiritual and intellectual wonder we are today. In this infinite arena we call our universe, we are yet at the beginning of our evolutionary experience. The sky’s the limit, and what we are capable of becoming is but a tiny glimmer in our imaginations and wonder.
We will explore the next Response Ability, Expression, in the next entry.
An excerpt from the book, A Clear Path to Healing, by Dr. Barry S. Weinberg
With Love and Appreciation,
Dr Barry