Change or wither slowly!
Is change scary or liberating?
Both in my experience, but that is not all. Thoughts of change can paralyse us or mobilise us!
Paralysis is sitting on the fence, feeling unable to move. We think about what could happen when stepping off in either direction, and indecision is unhealthy.
However, doing nothing is not an option. We must act because constant worry erodes our confidence and negatively affects our emotional well-being.
- “Action…is the enemy of thought.” Joseph Conrad
In other words, the fear of change begins to dissolve the minute we act.
Making a change in life can be easy, but deciding what to do, which way to go, can be challenging!
Wait, change has other ingredients too!
Pain and pleasure play a leading role in change. Hope and fulfilment are in the equation too.
Let me explain.
Most people sit on the fence and do nothing unless it becomes too painful. Equally, no action will be taken if the pleasure and hope for the future are not intense enough.
Imagine the below scenario. You will see what I mean:
- “I do not like where I live anymore, but it is bearable.” – Not enough pain or desire for change, therefore no action.
In other words, displeasure, annoyance, and unhappiness are present in the above situation, but not enough to make a change. Similarly, hope for a more desirable future is not strong enough to cause action.
However, remaining in this position can lead to increased frustration and disappointment. Worse still, happiness and fulfilment are slowly worn away.
Change or wither slowly!
- Hanging onto something because it is endurable is emotional suicide!
However, it is not a quick kill.
It affects our psyche little by little. Therefore, we may not notice the change in our well-being until it is too late!
Liberation comes from letting go.
I am not saying that action liberates us from fear altogether, but it helps!
It refocuses the mind toward a positive outcome, which gives us the strength to keep going.
Expecting obstacles on the way is helpful too, because anticipating problems helps us deal with them when they arise.
- Happiness and the feeling of fulfilment are the highest rewards!
We must ask ourselves what is worse:
- “Stay put and feel unhappy or take a risk to secure a more fulfilling future?”
You may also like this post about self-understanding Who am I? – Mindscreen
Is Low Self-Esteem Affecting Your Child's Potential?
Find out with our free 5-minute check
(For teacher and parent use)
Helping Children Flourish
Gav Devereux
Author bio
Being diagnosed with dyslexia, labelled remedial, and regularly told that I was a “stupid boy” affected my self-esteem.
Worse still, I carried low self-worth into my adult life. Yet, later, when I learned how to challenge my destructive mindset, I began to feel happier.
I thought, if I can change my way of thinking, anyone can!
And so, in 1996 I founded Mindscreen and began developing resources to help children to believe in themselves and go after their dreams.
That’s how the Mindscreen experience® came into being. I hope it helps your children as much as it has helped me!