As the old saying goes, change is inevitable. Sometimes it’s for the good. Sometimes it’s not. But it’s going to happen. So I’m going to share with you 5 reasons that change is important.
(The following was originally written in the Friday Digest email sent by TheWindingWillows. By popular demand, it is being published onto the site and expanded)
As I write this, I’m watching the wind blow in a cold front out my window. My dog is snoring next to me and a cinnamon candle is making me want to taste the air.
You can see and smell the change from one season to another all around you.
Change is important in life
I did a quick Google search on the term ‘life change’ and it came up with over 8 billion results. 8 billion pages have content focused on life change.
Umm…that’s a lot.
And definitely highlights how often people think about, write about, and search about change.
For me, it’s hard to believe that a few months ago (from the time of writing) I was facing a life-altering decision at work. My health had been wreaking havoc on my ability to function in a regular 8-5 job and I was starting to make mistakes. Missing things that can’t be missed.
It was a tremendous blow to my pride and everything I knew about myself to reach a point where I had to say, “Ok, I need to take care of me now.”
I spent the last 8 years building my self-worth into who I was as an employee. Every accomplishment and accolade built up my identity a little more.
And in the matter of 5 days, it all came crashing down. I did a lot of crying and sole-searching. And worrying. And praying. Not in that order.
Does change happen for a reason?
If this seems like a particularly philosophical question, you’re not wrong.
I think the great minds of the world are pretty evenly spread on this topic. Even those with great faith in a God that orders life can struggle with seeing the reason that bad things happen.
And there I was, staring into a whirlwind of change. Or as I sometimes like to call it, the C-word.
But all my worries about the c-word came back to one thing. This Bible verse.
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
Jeremiah 29:11
Now, I know not everyone reading this puts much stock into the Bible, if any.
But you should know that, at the very least, I believe it to be true that God has a plan for our life.
Admittedly, we might not always see that plan, but it’s there. I can say definitively that my husband and I have faced circumstances that looked bleak. They were hard and out of our control.
Each and every time, though, we were able to see how everything fit together after the dust settled. And in a much more grand way than we would ever be able to orchestrate.
But let’s put God’s plan aside. Or say you don’t believe in a guiding higher power.
What do you do if you’re facing a big change?
No seriously, what in the world are you supposed to do if you’re starting down the barrel of life change?
I’ve found that the short answer is, do your best to navigate a new situation.
There are going to be things you don’t know how to deal with. Be prepared for the unexpected and brush up on your improvising skills.
There is a saying in the business world that you need to “fail quick.” In other words, pick one route and try it. If you fail, move on to the next. Then the next. You will eventually figure out what works and what doesn’t.
And if you fail?
Well, that’s part of life. Babies would never learn how to walk if they never got up after they fell.
The most successful businesses in the world have a laundry list of the ways they tried and failed. But at least they tried!
It’s okay to be scared of change and trying new things. But don’t let it hold you back from succeeding.
Reasons to embrace change
Yes, change can be scary. But it also pushes us into things we would have never done before.
As a matter of fact, there are several good reasons that you should give change a try.
- Change forces you to grow. If you never change you’ll never be given the opportunity to improve. It also forces you into new situations where you can expand your knowledge and abilities.
- Change ensures you learn. After all, when you’re trying and failing, you’re learning the ways that don’t work. And then eventually the ways that do.
- Change brings adventure. Heading into unknown territory is nothing but a somewhat scary adventure. Don’t let it intimidate you. And be sure to take advantage of the change of routine. This might be the thing that breaks up some monotony in your life. Or helps you break through mental walls or chains.
- Change brings you closer to your community. Maybe that’s your family. Or your friends. In my case, it was my husband. But sometimes change force us to lean on others when we normally would not. Use those opportunity to become closer.
- Change highlights your strengths. Just imagine what life would be like if you’d never been forced to find something you’re good at! Like maybe you can create killer calendars if life suddenly got busy. Or you find out you know your way around a garden if you’re trying to save money on food because of a change in finances.
- Change makes you more compassionate. This is my favorite point. When you’re struggling with change, you’re making new decisions and failing in new ways. Sometimes it takes a different perspective on life to understand why or how someone else makes their decisions. In other words, it opens our blinders to the world around us and helps us understand the people in it better.
- Change tests your faith. This isn’t even specific to faith in a religious sense. In my case, yes it has tested my faith in God’s plan for my life. However, for you this could mean that your faith in yourself is being tested. Or your faith in your abilities. Whatever the case may be, you can learn a lot about yourself and those around you when life gets tough.
Summing it all up
Certainly, life presents plenty of opportunities for us to deal with change. Changes in relationships, workplace and career, health, living situations. It all adds up to lives full of fluxation, adjustments, and growth.
Admittedly, it’s not easy to adjust to change. But there are things that make it easier.
For example, knowing that change might be hard but important.
If you find yourself struggling, remember these 7 things about change:
- It forces you to grow
- It ensures you learn
- It brings adventure
- It brings you closer to your community
- It highlight your strengths
- It makes you more compassionate
- It tests your faith
Meanwhile, know that I’m dealing with change, too. You aren’t alone.
If you want to read about another situation where I had to change, you can click here to read about how I made dramatic changes to my diet to improve my health.
I hope I’ve helped encourage you to embrace changes that you may be facing. Even if you do call it the c-word. Life can be tricky and intimidating, but it can be an adventure and a teacher.
I’d love to hear from you! Let me know how change has impacted your life for the good or bad.
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This was exactly what I needed to read today! When we’re faced with a change (involuntarily) it can be very tempting to resist, or worry, or complain. Thanks for the reminder to trust the process and remember that there is a bigger plan for your life
I agree completely…worry and complaining are our go-to’s when a change happens! I hope you come to terms with and maybe even enjoy whatever change you’re facing!
Just wow I really needed to read an article like this today thanks for sharing it.
I’m glad it came at a good time! Good luck with whatever change you are facing!