Change and growth - is it all it's cracked up to be?
Let’s face it, change is uncomfortable and it takes effort. But change is always happening and it’s more uncomfortable to avoid change than embracing it and allowing it to help you grow.
"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
Why does change feel so hideous at times?
"At any given moment, we have two options, to step forward into growth or step back into safety."
Because your comfort zone feels so safe and warm. It’s called the ‘comfort’ zone for a reason! It’s calm, cosy, relaxing and secure. But life will not let you stay there for long, especially if your life purpose requires you to step outside of the 'safe place' and take a different path.
You can attempt to stay where you are and put in great effort to avoid change, but as the following quote so accurately states, “Trying to hold onto anything is like trying to nail jelly to the wall, nothing sticks, nothing stays".
Fear of change can also be a fear of loss – the loss of something familiar, the loss of relationships and maybe the loss of material items. But loss is often a crucial part of growth, by letting go of something you create space for something even more wonderful to come into your life.
What do we really give up when we change?
What we’re doing is actually discarding parts of ourselves that no longer serve our new future and by doing so are we creating space for new perspectives and a higher level of being. Doesn’t that sound great? Often a re-frame of our thinking is all that is required. So, instead let's focus on what you will gain by embracing change...
A stronger sense of purpose and growth
By embracing change, you might have an initial identity crisis, but evolving from the old you to the new you isn’t the end, it is the beginning of something new and the next version of yourself. By evolving you can gain a new spark of excitement about your life and reignite the passion for things you’d lost touch with, like your career or hobbies. Taking a leap of faith is scary, but you’ll gain an increased sense of adventure about the path ahead.
New challenges
Facing challenges or obstacles changes your perspective and forces you to tap into your creativity to come up with ways to overcome them. Overcoming challenges feels good! Everybody thrives with the right amount of challenge and stimulation. And, when we accept the challenges before us and handle them, we suffer less and gain more.
Facing challenges or obstacles changes your perspective and forces you to tap into your creativity to come up with ways to overcome them. Overcoming challenges feels good! Everybody thrives with the right amount of challenge and stimulation. And, when we accept the challenges before us and handle them, we suffer less and gain more.
New opportunities and possibilities
Change can open up many doors and opportunities that normally wouldn’t have been there without change. Change makes many things possible. It can allow you to meet new people, enjoy new experiences, develop new skills and ideas and learn new knowledge and information.
Change can open up many doors and opportunities that normally wouldn’t have been there without change. Change makes many things possible. It can allow you to meet new people, enjoy new experiences, develop new skills and ideas and learn new knowledge and information.
How does change feel to you now?
