Change is a constant in life, and embracing it is key to living a fulfilling and meaningful existence. The Stoics recognized this fact and encouraged us to be adaptable and flexible, no matter what life throws our way.

It can be tempting to resist or fear the unknown. However, the Stoics taught that change is not something to be feared, but rather, it is an opportunity for growth and self-improvement.

Marcus Aurelius wrote, “The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.” By focusing on our thoughts and our perspective, we can choose to see change as a positive and embrace it with open arms.

The first part of this email itself is an example of this very idea. Because it was written in part–although not completely–by ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence bot that can apparently do a remarkable job of mimicking and generating what a writer does. Yet we say “written in part” because, although the text ChatGPT spit out was largely usable and without grammatical errors, it wasn’t perfect. It didn’t sound exactly right. Things had to be moved around, stuff had to be deleted.

In his fascinating book Average is Over (which was published in 2013) Tyler Cowen predicted the rise of products like this. But instead of despairing that we’d all be replaced, he simply suggested that talented humans would have to figure out how to use these tools to be better at their jobs. This is itself a very Stoic idea. Because change, disruption, new technologies, they happen. We have to adjust and adapt to them instead of feeling threatened by them. We have to find ways to be improved by them (which Cowen discussed on the Daily Stoic Podcast), to benefit from them, as we do with all that fate hands us.

Embracing change also requires us to let go of our attachment to the past and to things that may no longer serve us. It may mean letting go of old ways of thinking, trying new things, or even stepping outside of our comfort zone. But by embracing change, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and experiences that can enrich our lives.

So let go of your fear of change and embrace it with open arms. Remember that change is a natural part of life, and by adapting and growing, we can live our lives to the fullest.