“If you don’t like where you are then change it. You are not a tree.”*
Change. It is such a difficult thing for most of us. Even if happiness is elusive in our current situation, a paralyzing fear can take hold to keep us from making a change. The thought of doing something different or changing the path in which we walk down can be scary. We can bargain with ourselves that living with unhappiness is better than what we fear of the unknown. It will keep us firmly planted where we are as a result.
Sometimes change doesn’t happen because of complacency. We simply go through the motions in daily life with little or no thought to our own happiness.
Is this relationship the best for me?
Am I fulfilled in this job?
Does it bother me how little time I carve out in the day just for me?
We should think about the answers to these questions and more. By being honest with ourselves and making the changes necessary, we can be on a path to a happier, more fulfilled life.
Change can bring about peace, happiness, greater love, and contentment. First we have to let go of the concept of being rooted in our current situation and have the courage to recognize the need for change.
It took me 40 years to embrace change.
I am no longer a tree.
What about you?
*This inspirational quote recently appeared on the Choose Happiness Facebook page.
Hi there sweetie, I loved this post.
I’m not crazy about change, but I do ok with it, I am a “go with the flow” kind of girl most of the time. Maybe I just don’t care enough?? Hmm?
in any case, I love that you are embracing change and doing things that you love, things that make you happy, push your comfort zone and enhance your life.
also, I love love love the quote.
Thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts Kir. Always love when you stop by!
I love this. Love! Change is really hard for me. I’m so remembering the tree from now on!
Galit,
I am glad you now have a tree visual to remind you that change is good. Maybe you can chant, “I am not a tree” too. It could help. Kidding. 🙂
Random thought: When I was younger, my friends and I would say whenever we stumbled but didn’t actually fall down, “I have the dexterity of a tree!” Which, being Dungeons & Dragons nerds, we all had a huge laugh over.
As far as change goes, it can be hard, but change can be good if you allow it to be good and adapt to it. If you don’t adapt, you don’t grow.
I completely agree Joshua; growth is not possible without change. Thanks for visiting and sharing a comment.
This is my first visit to your site and I love this post. I am not a fan of change, in fact, when I can, I plan far in advance for it, but when a change sneaks up on me, it knocks me off balance and makes me miserable. I can’t quite figure that out since we were always moving and changing in my childhood. I do not want to be a tree.
Brandi,
Thank you for visiting! I am so happy you found my site. If you don’t want to be a tree, just keep working at it. It will happen for you too.
Good for you! Change can be liberating and beautiful…I’m off to read the related posts…
I have finally come to embrace change.
Totally awesomeness! Every so often you need that light or blog to come by and knock you a good one reminding you consider change and the benefits of it
Thank you LIzzy! I am so happy to hear this post was a reminder for you. I loved the quote and simply had to write about it.
It’s all so true. In my first marriage (begun at the age of 20), by 4 years in I was very unhappy, but had no clue that change was even a option. When he left me in year 5, that change was foisted on me…and was a great eye opener! I learned depths and extents of myself that I had only previously glimpsed. And I thrived.
So each time some upheaval springs change on me, I find ways to grow and benefit from it. Sometimes I instigate my own change, too. Not always easy, but if it were, would the rewards be so worthwhile?
Lisa,
You make a great point. It is more worthwhile because of the effort required. Change can be hard, but can lead to some wonderful experiences.
I read this post three times. I had to go over it a few times in my melon. It’s so true though. The problem with how things are in this world is that sometimes it’s really hard to not be the tree.
Right now, I’m a tree, albeit not to my own liking or doing. Alas, I’m trying for a lot of change. Eventually, it will come. I keep crossing my fingers and hoping.
But you give good words here. Embrace change. It’s a simple statement, yet very powerful. I’m trying to embrace and hope I can do it soon!
The quotation you chose reminds me of Aida. There’s a part where Aida, who is a Nubian princess who’s been taken as a slave, is talking to the future Pharaoh and he’s complaining about all of the pressure and not wanting to be trapped in Egypt since he wants to explore and she says “if you don’t like your fate, change it. You are your own master — there are no shackles on you.” It’s an awesome statement.
As for change…I packed my dog, three bags of clothes, and a few prized possessions into my car last year and moved in with my boyfriend on a whim of two weeks. When I decided I didn’t like it I looked online, found a job as a nanny 24hrs later, and moved to Denver where they were. A few months later a kind friend who has since passed away drove me 5hrs to my old house, helped me pack all of my crap, and drove me 5hrs back to help me unpack it all.
I’m considering a new change sometime in the next few months. Colorado is cold and boring for me. Maybe I’ll try somewhere with a beach.