Why are we afraid of change?

The definition of change is to make the future different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone.

We all know that change can be an exciting opportunity for us, an opportunity to kick a bad habit, to go for that dream job, to lose weight or to ask out that person we have secretly been admiring from afar.

So what is it that stops us from making that change? Why do we not allow ourselves to move forward and accept change in our lives?

I painstakingly feel this question all too well.

The answer is we are afraid.

Afraid of the unknown.

Afraid of failure.

Afraid of disappointing others.

We procrastinate because deep down we are scared to take that plunge, for fear of where it may take us, even if it leads to a better life.

So your mind instead, raises questions, What if it leads to nothing? What if it’s a waste of time? What if I don’t like it? What if it’s painful? What if I can’t do it? What if people talk?

These “What if” type questions are detrimental and serve nothing but the fear of not being in control. What we don’t realize is whatever the outcome you can certainly overcome anything. The truth is by not allowing change we are indeed living an even scarier life where we do not have control of our feelings.

We are a nation and indeed a world of sufferers from fear. I used to suffer from fear. Fear of leaving the house where there might not be a toilet. Fear of leaving a job I stopped enjoying.

My mother refuses to drive alone across London to visit us for fear there is an accident that leads to a diversion. What would she do then? How would she get home? All these fears stem from the feeling of not being in control which comes from within us.

But so what if you get lost? So what if you fail. So what if it leads to nothing? Who cares if people talk? Your heart won’t stop, it will continue beating I promise.

So isn’t it better to live the life you really want than to be trapped in a situation that takes you nowhere.

Why should we have to settle for whatever happens?

Sometimes we are restricted to change by the familiarity and routine but change doesn’t have to be big, it can be the small things… changing your method of travel to work, changing what you eat for dinner, changing what you wear, changing the type of holiday you go on…

Whether change is good or bad, unless we attempt at change, how do we progress ourselves, how do we cross the boundary?

Whatever the outcome, even if its bad, so what? It’s just another opportunity for us to try things differently next time.

So go ahead, make the change…