“People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh
OOMPH. I always appreciate the wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh, but those words hit hard. However, there is a lot of truth in them.
Change is hard. It does not matter what the change is, it can be a long road. But what is on the other side of that change? What would you gain instead that would make life so much more rewarding and exciting? If you were to sit with your feelings for even 1-2 minutes and check in, what comes up?
It is often easy to get into the cycle of judgements of our self and even others for not making a change. We can get stuck in the patterns of fear and suffering because it is familiar rather than branching out towards something that is unknown and scary. What is on the other side of your fear?
The discomfort of making a change can stem from past traumas, fear of failure, discomfort of how relationship dynamics would change or the constant what-ifs running through our heads. Change can also lead to the most rewarding opportunities that you never knew were possible. It can open up new careers, relationships, living situations, financial freedom and even your own health and well-being.
Change can be a place of true healing if we are open to the process. It is not asking you to step away from your sense of purpose or authentic self, but it is asking you to step into the wild unknown and connect with the person you were meant to become.
What change do you want to make in your life today?