In Self-Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds…”. Don’t allow your current ideas and opinions to be dictated by what you used to think. We are all evolving. And through that process, we may dramatically change our believes – and that okay. It means you are growing.
The truth is change is the only constant in life. Just like the seasons change and we grow and evolve, everything else around us changes. We have this comfort in the known and when we feel the threat of change, we freak out.
But since change is going to happen anyway, why not embrace it? Instead of seeing it as an inconvenience, what if we looked at it like an opportunity?
I know some people who would rather stay consistent in their life, even if they are miserable. They fear the chaos they feel with any amount of change, that they avoid any kind of distress by keeping things the same. Even when the same no longer serves them.
It is human nature to stick with our same old patterns and routines, even when we know we’ve outgrown them. We take comfort in the known, and the unknown fuels feelings of uncertainty. We’d rather stick with the devil we know, because at least it is predicable.
Remember, change is inevitable, growth is optional. We can stick to our same habits and stay comfortable. But we know that the real magic in life happens outside of our comfort zone. So, what if we changed how we see breaking patterns that no longer serve us, and saw them as opportunities for growth?
What if these new habits could support who we are becoming rather than who we used to be?
Here are some things to remember when breaking old patterns and routines:
- It is okay to change your patterns when they no longer serve you. You don’t have to keep saying yes to something you’ve outgrown.
- Validate your feelings of wanting comfort in the known. It is human nature to crave certainty and if you slip back into old patterns every now and again, don’t beat yourself up for it.
- Remind yourself of why you are changing your behavior and how it supports the person you are today and who you are becoming.
- We learn so much more about ourselves when we try new things. We learn what we like, what we don’t like, what works for us and what doesn’t.
What patterns in your life are no longer serving you? What small changes can you make today to support who you are becoming?
