God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
~ Reinhold Niebuhr

Change

Change—many people are threatened by it. They worry they cannot handle transformations, be they big or small. Change can be scary, unnerving, and downright angst-producing, but it doesn’t have to be. Sometimes change can be a good thing.

CHANGE: to make different in some particular
CHANGE: to make radically different
CHANGE: to give a different position, course, or direction to
CHANGE: to become different
CHANGE: to undergo transformation, transition, or substitution
   * Definitions of Change from Merriam-Webster

Changes are Scary

vintage sold sign

The right mindset is key when embracing change

Changes can enter your life because of the loss of a job, of a partner (through death or divorce), or from the loss of a child. They happen when you get a new career, when you move (in town or across the country), when you take up a new lifestyle (diet, exercise, and/or quit smoking), and for a host of other reasons. Many of these significant changes can be quite stressful, but they also start you on to a new path. Fear of that path invariably makes it worse.

While any of these major life changes bring about radical differences in a life, it is the fears that are the most damaging. Will I succeed? Will I fail? Will others accept my changes? What is life going to look like now? These are all valid questions, but should not hold you back when you have the choice to make a positive change in your life.

Changes are Good

physical activity

Changes often open up a whole new world of possibilities. Embrace them!

Many changes are for the better. The new year often sees people finding the strength to make necessary changes—to lose weight, quit smoking, or get more active. They look beyond their fears and embrace what could happen with a shift. They might get healthier, be happier, meet new people, or find more joy in the everyday. Those are pretty exciting reasons for anyone to embrace change. The trick is to find the strength necessary to follow through and not be afraid of what life throws your way. You need to shed what no longer serves you and be open to what could be.

  • So what if you need to get rid of your old wardrobe? You’ve lost weight and should be proud of it!
  • It is a shame when marriages fail, but they can be an enlightening time to redefine who you are, and what your personal likes and dislikes really are. No more floral couches for you!
  • The loss of a job is a terrible blow, but sometimes it can open the door to new opportunities, like turning a favourite hobby into a new career path. Trade your suits and ties for safety glasses and coveralls to wear in your woodworking shop.
  • Downsizing your home brings up plenty of memories, good and bad, but it also has the perk of allowing you the choice of only taking the best with you into your new home. Purge the excess for a better version of you for tomorrow!

Embrace Change

Nothing is certain in this life, but death and taxes. What we make of the moments in between is what defines life. If that means switching out one lifestyle for another, embrace that change. You never know what those changes might bring, but if you let go of what no longer serves you, you might find that life becomes a whole lot better.