I was fortunate enough to be present among some great minds and creative souls recently and it made me re-evaluate how I am engaging with my environment. I happened to see a sign that read, “When I grow up, I wanna be like me”. It was a poignant reinforcement for me to remember that growing up is a process not a destination. I now must question that so far upon this winding journey of life, am I the person I wanted to be? Am I embracing the things I longed to embrace? Am I achieving what I so desired to achieve? In short, am I growing up to be someone I want to be like?
Growing Up by Embracing Change
We as as species abhor change. It is hardwired in our nature to avoid the possible painful aspects it may cause us to endure. Change…..why does such a little word cause so much fear and trepidation? Why does it get stuck in our throats like molasses-infused peanut butter? Why is it so hard to swallow and accept? For me, it was always about avoiding pain. It was about dancing with the devil you know rather than exploring the future that you don’t. I was fortunate enough early on to realize that there is no growth, no enlightenment, without change. Change will be a constant within your existence so it is prudent to make it your best friend and embrace it as you would a prodigal son returning home.
For the rewards far outweigh the risks. You can’t expect your future to get better or your situation to improve by doing the same thing you have always done. Without change you have stagnation and stagnation leads to despair. If you want the chance to seize greatness and live the life you were destined for, then you are going to need to reconsider you relationship with change and be prepared to leap out of your comfort zone, because that is where the elusive mortality of excellence abides. Where would the humble Caterpillar be without the metamorphosis? Would not know the beauty of the butterfly without the transformation of the caterpillar.
Give Yourself Time to Fill the Shoes
As a child there were many, many times our family found ourselves in dire straits and flirting with financial abyss. That being the case, a good selection of my clothing were second-hand or hand-me-downs. For the most part, they were too big. It never bothered me because there were people who were far worse off and at least I had clothes. I say all of that to say, the over-sized clothes had the benefit of having room to grow. They would last me a bit longer because I had time to grow into them. They allowed for change. The same can be said of change in our daily lives. Many times, it is necessary for use to exercise patience to grow into our new roles and experiences. We must allow time for us to grow into the change until it fits us like a custom tailored suit. Once it becomes a bit too tight, it is time to pass it down to some other needing soul and for us to change again. This is the cycle of life, this is the road to redemption, this is the path to perfection.
Are you willing to be bold enough to seize the change that will ensure your immortality?
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Originally appeared on Steemit.
Photo by Pixabay.