In over thirty years of teaching personal growth and prosperity, I have become convinced that one’s relationship and reaction to change is a major factor determining whether he or she has a happy and successful life.
We all have some anxiety and fear when change looms. When I was a newsman in radio, I remember vividly the horror with which I would greet covering any story in an unfamiliar area. For example, I was working at WRVA Radio in Richmond, Virginia and felt very comfortable covering city council meetings and the Governor’s press conferences–but the first time I was called on to cover a fire, I almost had a panic attack. I didn’t know any of the protocol or culture of firefighting, had no idea what to ask firemen. In other words, I was being thrust into unfamiliar territory, and was afraid of making a complete fool of myself by doing it all wrong. This is probably the same kind of fear that kept me from learning to dance as a teenager.
Since then, I have learned to live with and embrace and even look forward to change. I have often moved to a new location where I didn’t know anyone and enjoyed the adventure of getting to feel at home as fast as possible. This was especially true when I moved to Panama without speaking Spanish last year. Yes, I felt a bit anxious when I had to make my first trek to the border, cross over into Costa Rica, cross back and re-enter Panama. This is required of all expats, who have to Panama every six months to maintain their tourist Visa. There were some scary stories online about customs officials suddenly changing the rules, but I was calm and collected as I went through the process.
What’s my secret? It’s really simple. I have been saying the “welcome and enjoy change” affirmation for many years, and learned through the experience of just living life that change is the one thing you can depend on. I allowed that to really sink in, and was able to see change as a comfortable old friend.
A big question I ask myself from time to time, “Am I avoiding change so I can feel safely within my comfort zone.” We all do this, and to the degree which we allow it to run our lives, it can be a very destructive position. I would go so far as to say we need to create change if the universe isn’t delivering it fast enough. There are many and varied ways to accomplish this, which I’m sure you have heard before, but not so sure you have been willing to do.
We can learn something new. New research shows this fires up certain neurons in the brain useful in staying youthful. Learning a new language and then speaking it are particularly effective ways to make a major change in a life that may have settled into a comfortable rut. Leaving the San Francisco Bay area definitely was a way of waking myself up from a comfortable rut. In 1994, when I moved into a commune without knowing any of the other residents, it was a huge change for me. I also was moving from Southern to Northern California. I definitely felt some anxiety and discomfort at first, but these vanished pretty quickly as I got to quickly feel at home.
Adding a new person or group of people to your circle of friends can be a fantastic way to experience major change in your life. Change can revitalize you. When I used to counsel couples, one strategy I suggested seemed to always give the relationship a booster shot. I suggested, if like most people each person had a favorite side of the bed to sleep on, that they switch sides. Amazingly, it’s almost like you have a new partner. You get to relate to a new side of his or her body, and it can be filled with discovery. And when you are not quite as comfortable as you were, you tend to play closer attention to what’s going on around you.
It’s useful to explore which areas of your life may have sunk into a comfortable rut, which things you are avoiding changing because of fear, and which parts of your life you may be kidding yourself about. In other words, there probably are some situations and conditions of your life right now that you are lying to yourself and others about–telling everyone how much you love this or that part of your life, when you actually would like to replace it with something that scares you because it is unfamiliar.
It’s sometimes even scary to ask ourselves the question, “Is it time for a change in my life?”
Jerry
0
Signing you up!
If You Enjoyed This Post, Get Updates...It's FREE
I'm on a mission to help YOU enjoy a prosperous life. Won't you join me?
Enter your Name and Email Address Below
We hate spam just as much as you
Signing you up!
If You Enjoyed This Post, Get Updates...It's FREE
I'm on a mission to help YOU enjoy a prosperous life. Won't you join me?
Click the Button Below to Sign Up
Sign Me Up via Facebook Connect!
We hate spam just as much as you
Signing you up!
If You Enjoyed This Post, Get Updates...It's FREE
I'm on a mission to help YOU enjoy a prosperous life. Won't you join me?
