Accepting Change

Trying New Things

No matter what, we all fear change at some point or another. Maybe you are like me, and you love change, maybe you hate it, or maybe it makes you uncomfortable. You might remember learning about a little thing called homeostasis in your middle school bio class…our bodies' basic desire to keep an equilibrium. It’s in our nature to be resistant to change. It’s completely normal to resist change, as we are hardwired to do so. But this basic bodily function can manifest itself in our thoughts. Thoughts of failure, rejection, or simply wasting your time might surface in your mind. Maybe you are worried you won’t be good enough, people will judge you, or you just like your comfort zone.

I am sure you’ve heard the butterfly metaphor about change at some point or another: “The caterpillar must undergo some change to blossom into the beautiful butterfly before you”. And, it certainly can sound cheesy, maybe make you roll your eyes, but honestly, it’s true.

If you read my last post about Staying Motivated in College, hopefully, you remember that starting small is ok. You might not be ready to sing a solo in front of a room of people; but jumping into something new can be something as simple as listening to a song from a different genre. On the other hand, you might love change, but you are a bit of an achiever like me, finding yourself worried about trying something you might not be good at. All these experiences are normal, it is important to move forward and still take the leap.

Why???

First things first, realize that you must change to grow. Think of all the things you will miss out on if you don’t branch out and explore. The people you would’ve met, the places you would’ve seen, the cultures you would’ve explored, and much more. If I had distanced myself from change, I would have never found the amazing group of women I did in college. I would still be skipping out on eggs at breakfast, biker shorts, alternative music, espressos, leadership opportunities, and even creating this blog.  

All those things are great butttttt I am already happy…

Perhaps you don’t want to change. Realistically why would you give up what you have for a maybe? Well, the answer is always no unless you ask. Sure life is good now, but there is potential for it to be even better. Even if your bold move doesn’t end up exactly how you want it to, consider all that you are gaining from the experience: learning how to work through failure, finding an alternative passion, meeting new people. This might sound dumb but I experienced this myself. In 8th grade, I tried out for the soccer team 2 weeks into a new school…and I was cut. My ego was a little hurt, but I knew I still needed to be active so I tried out for the track team. I made it! I met my best friend, the best coach, and found a place I could grow and learn. If I never put myself out there AND failed, I would’ve severely missed out. GET UP! Get off your phone, put down your life on the internet, and do something for yourself. No one is going to have your back like you. Each moment you spend making excuses for yourself as to why you “can’t do it” , “it’s scary”, “what if…” is a wasted moment. You WILL NOT know unless you try.

On a heavier note, not only is growth a duty to ourselves, but to each other as well. As a society, we need to continue to progress and help transform the world into a better place. If our ancestors never changed, we would be living in a substantially different time. Women's suffrage would be nonexistent, America might have never come to be, you might not even be alive.

Change is also very rewarding…

Ever stopped and thought about how much growth you’ve had, maybe seen some gym progress pics, or enjoyed your first meal with mushrooms (I still can’t get behind those…). You probably feel proud of how far you have come, thank yourself for being brave enough to make those changes.

I recently had a conversation with a student athlete who expressed his reluctance to try new things. His whole life has been his sport, it’s what he’s good at, where he’s comfortable, where he understands life. But at the same time, he displayed a slight longing for something more. He wants something more, a new experience, something he can define himself by outside of his sport. While I don’t doubt it will be scary for him to try new hobbies, I am almost positive it will leave him feeling more fulfilled and excited about life.

Similarly, after some discussion with one of my college friends regarding family life and experiences, she decided to make a scary change, which left her happier than before. She has a good relationship with her family, but after spending time with my family and I, she wanted to deepen her own family relationship. So, she did. No, she did not start by telling her parents her craziest college secret, but instead she started small and asked her parents to watch tv together. A simple gesture of change, that opened the door to a beautiful relationship.

You might be scared. You might be afraid. You don’t want to be judged, rejected, setback, regretful, insecure and more. I can’ blame you. Life is scary. But staying in your comfort zone and never growing will most certainly be worse. So… reach out to that person you are interested in, go to the first club meeting, walk into the macho man area in the gym, try that food you think you won’t like. Sure, you can stay in your comfort zone, enjoy your “normal”, feel content. OR, you can take a leap of faith. Meet incredible new people, discover a new hobby, and find an overwhelming sense of fulfillment. You choose.