The Art of Change
This may not be what you want to hear but discontentment and unhappiness are supposed to motivate you. We think that not being happy is a problem that we have to get rid of. What if I tell you that it is not? What if I tell you that it is a warning that something must change? What if I tell you that it should inspire you to overcome the obstacle called discomfort?
There are thousands of advice on how to overcome unhappiness but what if the only thing that has to be done, is to accept change?
Why do we avoid change?
Most people avoid change because it is uncomfortable. Yes. Yes. Yes. It is incredibly uncomfortable and that is where most people stop, turn around and return to their unhappiness. That is when people complain about their lives being so hard and unfair. Even though it never was. It was from the beginning on them deciding to turn around and go back. They avoid reaching fulfillment because they avoid feeling discomfort.
What do you want from life?
Every day you make this decision and as cliché as this may sound, it is the moment you wake up and decide on how to start your day. It sets the tone for the majority of your day. Do you want to achieve your goals? Then get up, embrace the discomfort and move forward. You owe this to yourself. You decide on what to receive in life because it is you either keep going or turn around. If things will work out depends on you, and only you.
What can you do?
Whenever you are on the verge of deciding, think of how you will feel in a few hours. Imagine yourself waking up as soon as your alarm goes off. Some chores have already been done, you are drinking your coffee and working on your projects at peace, knowing that you are doing this for a reason. Now think of yourself lying in bed, waking up after hitting the snooze button far too often, getting grumpy out of bed and wondering why this life is so hard. Choose your ‘hard’, choose your way to live.
There is a quote that I stumbled upon, and it says:
You will always regret not working hard enough but you will never regret having worked hard.
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It hit me because it is so simple yet that is where most people stop and turn around. The only thing dividing these two parallels is the uncomfortable. Overcoming discomfort and making it a habit, then moving on to the next hurdle. Always improving. Always learning. Always being curious. That is what will make you appreciate life and enjoy it. Avoiding unhappiness will not make you feel good, it is about embracing this feeling and working with it, instead of against it.
What do you expect from yourself?
Be the person embracing the ugly, the uncomfortable. Change for yourself; move your mind and your body, move in any direction, any direction is making you move forward. It is as simple as that and don’t you dare to make excuses to yourself. After all, this is you working on your life, why would you want to give up on yourself? There are thousands, no, uncountable fulfilling moments waiting for you if you do not turn around, if you keep going, if you do not give up on yourself. You owe this to yourself.
Don’t you ever give up on yourself!
Don’t you ever give up on who you want to become!
Don’t you ever give up on your dreams!
Ask yourself “Why am I holding myself back?”.
Then get out there and overcome your obstacles. Embrace discomfort and learn from your failures. You will not regret it. You will succeed. You will grow and turn into your best self.