Regarding cement-like minds or people’s tendency to think they cannot change…
I remember my mom telling me as a teenager that my dad couldn’t change. That he was too old (his 50’s) and set in his ways. I remember hearing that message several times from my family that people do not change, or can’t; that was their belief system and I certainly assumed they were right.
Then I was in a situation at age 18 where the pressure was on me to change. I had just entered a young adult treatment program for people with addiction issues. One of the counselor’s there talked to me a lot about how I needed to change (yikes at the time!). I remember reading a quote similar to this one below up on the wall and working hard to digest it.
“When it becomes more difficult to suffer than change — then you will change.” I held that idea up to the words of my mom about change. There was almost a question of “won’t we break if we try to change our minds and ourselves?”

Now I smile at the irony of yes, indeed many of us do break in order to change. The first few breaks and openings were incredibly scary and shattering; it took time to reap some of the rewards but they are clear and present to me and now an assumed part of this journey for me (clearly for many of us).
My relationship with “change” has shifted over time. These last few years I breathe it in, it is familiar to me. Sometimes i experience it like a divine partner in spirit form; i often smile at it’s presence. its temperature can be warm, it’s energy integrious and firm.
peace,

Sara