Change is constant, very much needed, and very much possible. Don’t be scared to make one.
Life is too short not to live it to the fullest. And as far as I know, everyone has just one trial at life. You don’t get to live twice.
If you do not take the time to notice some things happening around you and to you, you will continue to drag yourself through every day. This is why it is essential to know when a drastic change is needed to get to go through life with a feeling of fulfillment and happiness.
‘The only thing constant in life is change.’
Most of us grew up hearing that statement in one form or the other. That simple yet complex statement, when truly understood can make life a little more bearable.
So, What Is Change?
Most dictionaries would say it is when you alter or replace something with another thing of similar value. I would say change is doing things differently. It’s shaking things up and modifying the dynamics of the ways things are done.
It’s doing things in a way you wouldn’t have before. Some form of change is always needed in our lives. The world isn’t static and neither are we. We were never meant to remain the same all our lives. If so, we would have never accomplished anything as a species.
We are meant to evolve, alter our mindsets and break barriers. We did not get to where we are as humans by staying the same, we adapted, we improved and we evolved. We changed.
Except whoever is reading this is not human, there will always be a need for change in every one of our lives. We are meant to make the previously impossible, possible.
We are built for change and it’s time we own it. Many people are not receptive to change, and with good reason, because we never know in what way some things will change.
As with everything else, there are positives and negatives about change. On the upside, you will never be bored and on the downside, you can often be filled with worrisome thoughts because you can never be sure of what to expect.
Whatever the case may be, change is needed and, in some cases, even occur without the permission of the individual experiencing it.
So, how do you know when a change is needed in your life? That’s where this article will help you. I’m going to give you some signs to know when you need to shake things up. Buckle up and let’s get to it.
12 Signs That Change Is Drastically Needed In Your Life
1. You’re Feeling Stuck Or Stagnant
You need change when you are feeling stuck or stagnant. Everyone gets stuck. The danger is not in getting stuck but, staying stuck. The problem is stagnation. If you find yourself in a funk for longer than is comfortable, that’s a sign that you need to shake things up.
Upset the status quo. Rock the boat. Sometimes, that feeling of being stuck is the reminder that you need to change something in your life. When you feel like that again, do something in your routine a little differently.
2. You Have Passions That Are Unfulfilled
You need change when you have passions in life that are being left unfulfilled. Our passions make us who we are. They drive us, give us a sense of purpose and guide the decisions we end up making. They are our wills to live. When they don’t get accomplished, we end up feeling unfulfilled and disgruntled with life.
Don’t ignore these feelings, they are often larger symptoms of a discontented life. Take them seriously and make decisions that allow you to pursue your passions.
A life without passion is like a day without sunlight, bleak. Your passions are valid and you can always achieve your goals, however, if you do not end up achieving your goals, you need to come to terms that in life, sometimes, we do not get what we want.
3. You Have Fallen Into Bad Habits
‘Bad habits are like chains that are too light to feel until they are too heavy to carry.’ – Warren Buffet
You need a drastic change when you have fallen into bad habits.
I think we all have at least one vice. That thing that makes us a less than ideal version of ourselves. For some, it’s a fondness for drugs, alcohol, and junk food and, for others, it’s being lazy and not prioritizing the right things.
Whatever it is, we often fall victim to our bad habits. This can’t be overcome by wishing them away, there has to be a will to turn things around and change for the better.
It is often said that if there is a will, there is a way, so that bad habits can be changed and broken if you are willing to take the necessary steps.
If you are in search of a proper guide that will help you develop better life-changing habits and let go of toxic/bad habits I have created a detailed article here that can effectively direct you to make positive changes.
4. You’re Outgrowing Old Relationships Even With Yourself
Yes! You need a change in your life when you start feeling like you are outgrowing old relationships, especially with yourself. You have to remember that it’s all in your mind.
Of course, we can outgrow people and relationships but we have to make sure it doesn’t come from a misguided feeling of wanting to feel grown. Mentally evaluate all your decisions to ensure you’re doing what’s best for you then you can make the necessary changes.
5. You Are Getting No Satisfaction From Your Current Phase
You need a change when you are getting no satisfaction and fulfillment, in your current phase. Sometimes, you are stuck but you derive no pleasure from where you are now and that’s okay.
You might just be in a low phase. Life can’t be in one way forever. You should try and understand why you are not getting satisfaction from your current reality. Is it depression? Are you just not satisfied with the pace at which you are moving? How do you move on and accelerate your growth? Once you can comfortably answer these questions, you will know what steps to take to help yourself.
6. You Don’t Feel In Tune With Your Values Or Yourself
You need a change when you do not feel in tune with, or connected to your values. You don’t need to be in a coma to have an out-of-body experience, sometimes, you’re just observing yourself and the world around you wondering how you fit it into it all. It happens to the best of us.
One day, you’re perfectly content with how your life is, and another, you’re questioning the meaning of everything you’ve ever known. Relax. You’re not going crazy. Or, maybe you are. Doesn’t matter either way.
Breathe, just breathe. Better? Now, remind yourself of why all those things mattered in the first place and whether they should matter now. Somehow, you’ll find the connection you are looking for. A little introspection is all that’s required.
7. Your Energy Is Low And You’re Burnt Out
‘Burnout is what happens when you try to avoid being human for too long.’ – Michael Gungor
You’re human. Act like it. Like it or not, you have to take breaks and decompress if you don’t want to burn out. Burnout is not being stressed out, or feeling of inadequacy. It is emotional exhaustion and detachment from life.
When this happens, the best thing to do is to stop all forms of work as soon as is convenient and take a mental break. Do things to replenish your energy like exercise, read books and go on a vacation. Just take a break from life as you know it.
8. You’re Becoming A Person You Don’t Like
Do you ever look at yourself in the mirror and wonder who is staring back at you? You look the same, you smell the same but deep down you’re aware you aren’t who you used to be.
You no longer keep yourself to the standards you once set for yourself. You’re slipping and you don’t know what to do about it.
You don’t like yourself and you have no reason to. You’re not who you used to be and you are ashamed of yourself. Good. You’re on the right path. If you don’t like it, change it. Go back to where you started and get to where you lost it and fix it up. There’s guaranteed failure if you never try.
9. You’ve Stopped Working On Yourself
Do you ever wonder about that person you thought you would be? Why is that? What made you stop trying to be that person you always dreamed you would end up being? We learn and hope to improve every day.
Each day is a new opportunity to be closer to the person you’ve always dreamed of being. Of course, you’ll make mistakes but that doesn’t mean you should ever give up. Remember, better late than never.
Fix up. Change your life for the better and don’t forget to be kind to yourself. The moment you stop working on yourself mentally, physically, financially this shows that it is time to make a positive change or upgrade in your life.
Remember each new season, new trial, new change creates a new rhythm, a new melody inside of us. Otherwise, we will find that we have reached the end of our lives and have been dancing to the same song the whole time.
10. You’re Not Happy And You’re Merely Surviving
The greatest human instinct is that of survival. It’s not always enough though. Sometimes, all we want to do is get through that challenge, and other times, we are tired of always trying to survive.
We want to enjoy life and not always go from one hardship to another. I get it. I understand why you’re not happy with a life of having the bare minimum.
But when this begins to be the order of the day where you are barely happy and constantly surviving or holding on to the buds of survival then you need to keenly inspect your activities and pave for important changes.
Life is usually filled with ups and downs and it can seem like there are too many downs at that point. You know what? You should want more than the scraps life gives you. Write down what you want. Write down how to get it and do it. Just do it. There’s never any harm in trying for more.
Always remember everything is going to be okay no matter how tough or difficult it appears to be right now. Breathe and remember that you’ve been in this place before. You’ve been this uncomfortable, anxious and scared, and you survived. Close your eyes and feel the universe within you making a way for you right now.
11. You Barely Live In The Present
Go outside and touch some grass (or concrete). You are never going to get the time you have now back. You have to learn to let go of the past, live in the present, and look forward to the future. Stop beating yourself up over things you can’t change.
Just stop. Once you continually hover around the past or barely enjoy the waves of the moment life gives you, you need to properly reaccess your life and make some valid changes.
You only live once. Why don’t you make the best of it? Don’t waste the time you have now over things you can’t predict or change. Learn to live in the now and appreciate the things around you. Look for things to be grateful for even when life is not so good. You never get each moment that passes back. Don’t waste your time.
12. Your Life Doesn’t Fit Anymore
The moment you start to dedicate your life chasing things you don’t want to, impressing people you shouldn’t care about then you need to make some positive changes and improvements in your life.
Now, survival and life may not always go as planned or turn out to be how you envisioned it but this doesn’t have to limit you in any way.
Life is all about growing, evolving and as we grow older, our mindset changes, our priorities shift and it’s normal. As the several buds of survival open up the tools we need to survive will continually be adjusted so do not limit yourself when you constantly have to shift or positively improve your life.
Sometimes, you wonder if there’s more for you. That’s okay too. But in your quest in chasing rainbows don’t forget to enjoy some rain once in a while. Those disappointments can often be blessings in disguise. Enjoy and embrace your life, both the good and bad aspects of it.
Life is often what we make of it. Some things we wouldn’t change for the world and others we would at the expense of everything else. In all of this, try to embrace change wherever and whenever you can. Problems do not finish and life isn’t always smooth.
But hey! That’s life. Sometimes the things we can’t change end up having the biggest impact on our lives. Identify and learn to work with those things. They’ll make or mar you. I leave you with the wise words of Johan Wolfgang von Goethe, ‘Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for changes.’
I know survival can be stitched up with a lot of turbulence, do not reduce or limit yourself as the need for change or improvement comes to us. Let these essentials for survival guide you; patience is necessary as you grow, always ensure to make time for self-healing, rest is necessary for success, know everything is impermanent, allow things to happen organically, small changes can make big waves, a calm mind is creative and powerful, your value is not defined by your work, inner peace is your most valuable assets.
And feel free to send me a direct message on Instagram at any time if you need more clarity, more assistance, or just want to share your development journey as a whole. I will be so elated to have a chat with you.
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