Things Change!
You can fight change, but you’ll lose.
Change: It’s a word that means different things to different people. But, in general, to me, it means transformation.
As a verb (action):
To make or become different, to alter, modify, or transform something.
Example: “She decided to change her approach to life.”
As a noun (state):
The act or process of becoming different.
Example: “The change in weather was unexpected.”
It’s also about replacing one thing with another or transforming in character, appearance, or structure.
Change shows up in every corner of life. From our inner worlds to the outer world, nothing stays the same — not for a moment, and certainly not forever.
Take our bodies, for instance. They’re constantly in flow — skin sheds, neurons fire, blood pumps, muscles grow, fat comes and goes. Sure, I can choose to be healthy or let things slide, but either way, I owe my body love and respect for everything it does for me. It’s been my partner through thick and thin, even when I’ve treated it like absolute crap. The least I can do is stop poisoning it and take some responsibility. My body rises with me every morning — it deserves better than my neglect!
Some changes are simply part of the natural order, completely out of our control. Seasons shift, tides ebb and flow, and the sun rises and sets no matter what we do. Weather patterns change, and natural disasters remind us we’re part of something far bigger than ourselves. It’s just not worth our mental health resisting these changes.
While nature leads, we can sometimes influence its flow. Climate change is a prime example — our actions matter, but the planet won’t heal overnight. Gardens thrive under our care, but we still depend on the weather and seasons. Animals adapt to the world we create, often at the heartbreaking cost of their wild spaces.
Everything in nature changes — babies are born and grow, plants sprout and wither, fruit seeds, rivers shift their course, and no wave crashes the same way twice. Change is constant, growth is inevitable, and the natural world is our best reminder of that.
Relationships change too. Love fades, connections evolve, and friendships ride their own rollercoasters. Families grow and shrink through births, deaths, and life taking us in different directions. I’ve had to ask myself: Can I truly be my whole self in this friendship anymore? Am I growing with this person, or are we growing apart? Society loves to tell us to stick it out and work through things, even when it’s clear the connection has run its course. Sure, sometimes we need to dig deep and repair — but sometimes we need to honour the truth and let go. It’s not easy, but it’s respectful — to ourselves and the people we care about.
Jobs are another story. Why stick with one that sucks the life out of you, stifles your creativity, or feels like a dead end? If I can’t find a way to shift my perspective and make peace with it, then I know it’s time to move on. Life’s too short to wake up dreading every work day. And as the world changes — at crazy speed — I might need to reskill, upskill, or just change directions to keep the fire alive in my belly. I spend so much time at work; why settle for suffering when I could choose joy instead?
Growth is uncomfortable — for all of us. On a side note, learning can be uncomfortable too, and we’ve been doing that since the day we were born. I’ve seen it in the kids I taught at school. They get so excited when they master something new, like counting to ten. Then you challenge them to count to twenty, and suddenly, they’re back in that space of discomfort. It’s not unsafe — it’s just unfamiliar. And that’s where the magic of growth happens.
The problem is, the world has become too comfortable and humans gravitate towards comfort. Climate-controlled, predictable, and safe. When things shift — a hot day, a cancelled plan, or running out of our favourite food — it can feel like a catastrophy for some. Small things start to feel massive, and they can’t cope.
Even man-made things change. Which can be hard to deal with if you were the man making the things. Houses are built and crumble. Technology evolves faster than we can keep up, reshaping how we live and connect. Cities expand, skylines shift, and new toys become ‘vintage’ way too quickly! Even societies norms aren’t fixed; they shift over time, transforming how we relate to each other and the world.
I recently read a story of a science teacher, who kept teaching the old science, even after new discoveries, because if he started teaching the new, it would “invalidate his life work”. Such is this beautiful mess we call life, not everyone is able to adapt so freely.
I want to shout to the world that change isn’t something to be scared of! Discomfort isn’t always dangerous! There’s a huge difference between the anxiety (fear) of starting a new job and the fear of an axe murderer. Yet, in this hyper-comfortable world, we’re reacting to tiny inconveniences like they’re life-threatening. We’re so out of balance! I know our trusty amygdala is bored and wants something to do, but the reality is, the majority of us are not in war torn countries, or running away from a lion!
If we cling to things when it’s time to let go, we suffer. Life isn’t about holding on for dear life — it’s about embracing change and making space for something new.
We need to remember though, that there are things we have control over if we want to put in the effort. We can change our jobs and relationships. even more so, we can change our minds, habits and reactions. This is where our power lies. The outside world will always shift, but we get to choose how we respond. Personal change happens when we take responsibility for our emotions, mindsets, and choices. It’s not always easy, but it’s where real growth, peace, and happiness are.
