The Difference Between Change and Transformation

For years, I’ve written about the spiritual, social, cultural and political shifts happening to us collectively and individually. I’ve used the terms change and transformation interchangeably to describe these events. Something was one way, but now something is another way. I assumed that either word—change or transformation—was equally competent to describe this process.

Words are merely signposts pointing to reality, and as it turns out, these two words are pointing to somewhat different realities. How so? Some have said that change is the ordinary response to external forces, while transformation is a fundamental reordering that may include the alteration of core beliefs, central assumptions, animating values and even one’s sense of identity. I’ve heard it said this way: A change can make something better, but only a transformation can make a better something.

I experienced significant change when I moved from Atlanta to New York City almost nine years ago. From the Southern suburbs to a Northern urban center, from a large house to a cramped apartment, from close proximity to family and friends to complete anonymity, from a conservative, Christianized culture to a progressive, pluralistic culture. When I packed up that rented minivan and headed North, change was guaranteed, but transformation was only a possibility. But over time, the former led to the latter.

This new world and it’s new rules created the space I needed to begin rethinking long-held assumptions about the world and other people and God and even my own me-ness. I realized that some of my old ways had stopped working well, so I was able to let them go. An old me gave way to a new me, which is just a fancy way of saying I grew-up. Change opened the door to transformation.

I’ve been researching the Beatitudes lately, and in the process, I came across Richard Rohr’s book “Jesus’ Plan for a New World.” He explains that these seeming synonyms are, in a sense, opposites:

Transformation, though, is not the same as change. Change is when something new begins. Transformation is just the opposite. It more often than not happens when something old falls away. It happens after a crisis, when something we’ve learned to depend on is taken away. Not all crisis, of course, lead to transformation. When something is taken away that you’ve grown used to or addicted to, you will either turn bitter or be transformed.

Anyone reading this book has lived in a period of human history which has seen more change than any other century ever. We’ve undergone psychological change, cultural change, political change, economic change, worldview changes. Most people throughout history (except during times of plagues and violent upheavals) have lived their life inside one paradigm or model. Most people have agreed upon one worldview. Yet there have been major paradigm shifts maybe four or five times during this century! Maybe that’s why we have so many unhealthy people now. There has been massive change, but the change has not always been accompanied by transformation.

When change unaccompanied by the transformation of the soul is demanded, people are often destroyed.

Written nearly 40 years ago, Rohr’s words could not be more timely. Change is happening everywhere you look, and its quickening pace is disorienting to many of us. But the change of this moment is calling us to a transformation of the soul. Will we respond?

Letting go isn’t for the faint of heart, of course. It requires loss, and loss is never easy. But responding to change with transformation is the only way to resitutate ourselves in the brave new world that’s rising up all around us.