Part of a series to help you conquer the skills of daily living.
An ancient Greek philosopher supposedly said that the only constant thing in life is change.1 Especially as you grow up and become a young adult, life will probably change a lot. But that’s OK!
In fact, change can be a really good thing. We grow when we try new things. We develop valuable skills, meet new people, and discover new talents.
Here are tips for viewing change as an ally instead of an enemy:
- Pray for new experiences. That’s right, ask for them! It can help shift your mentality from victim to volunteer.
- Ask God for the courage to face changes with a good attitude. Remember, you’re never alone. Jesus is walking with you every step of the way.
- Talk with others who have been there. Do some research about your situation. Ask questions and find answers.
- Celebrate when you make mistakes. Yes, you heard correctly. Mistakes are valuable because they teach us a lot about ourselves. And they are part of learning anything new. Own them!
- Acknowledge that you are rarely truly stuck in a situation. If you don’t like something, most of the time you can stop and try something else instead.
- Remember that there are things you should never try—even once. Set boundaries and stick with the gospel standards that will keep you safe.
Changes push us out of our comfort zone, but they also open many opportunities. So don’t worry. Everything will be OK.
“Dear Future Self …”
Think of one change that happened in your life that led to some sort of a blessing. What did you learn? Write a letter to your future self about that experience. The next time you feel anxious about an upcoming change, read the letter to remind yourself that things will be OK. Who knows what unknown blessings are heading your way!
Notes
1. Commonly attributed to Heraclitus.