Change will happen, but can we learn to embrace it?

After a week break from the last blog due to a family emergency I'm back baby! It's definitely been an exciting week to put it politely and I felt like exploring the topic of change as a result.

I recently watched inside out 2. Other than shedding tears towards the end, I couldn't help but relate to the main character and emotions depicted. This also got me thinking about how changes happen in life and often it's inevitable like our first day at school or moving home to the unexpected passing of loved ones. Often I hear conversations about change and how many people don't like change. This is partly true for me as well.

But what makes people dislike change?

I believe this comes from a sense of certainty that we have in knowing something, much like a routine or plan in place for the week ahead. This certainty provides comfort and security to the mind keeping anxiety at bay. However this goes without saying that our comfort zone can also be a very dangerous place if we allow ourselves to linger there for too long.

I've found myself on more than occasion in fear of leaving my comfort zone and being trapped inside of it. As a result I've experienced behaviours such as low mood, worry, emptiness and confusion. My beliefs play a big part in defining who I am but if a belief is questioned by an experience then I feel the comfort zone shrink. I've come to realise that I don't have to hold onto a belief that causes distress but I can shape and mould the belief to something that widens my comfort zone. Once I recognise where the origin of the uncertainty comes from I can allow myself time to explore it and become more certain of it within myself.

How do we embrace change?

Let me be honest it can vary from days, weeks, months or even years before I'm able to embrace a change and that all depends on the experience I've had. Having our first child was a challenge that took years for me to come to terms with, however that was impacted by difficulties with my mental health at the time. Yet with our second and third I became more accepting of the experience (still took years but it was a shorter amount of time for me to adjust).

Perhaps acceptance is the key to allowing ourselves to embrace change. I accept there is uncertainty in not knowing what's to come or what will happen so I might as well do something that I enjoy. In my case it's being creative.

Take care beautiful souls.

Love Dom 💖