Now I am like most humans. I admit that change has the potential to terrify me, and it unfortunately often does. It's a psychological thing; humans get used to their comfort zones. Why fix something that is not broken, right? Consider Facebook. Everytime Mark Zuckerberg puts in one of his changes (IE Timeline), alot of people go mental because they are used to something else. Facebook is one small example, how about relationships? You know that the relationship is failing and yet you still want to work things out with your significant other. Again, this is nobody's fault. It is pretty bloody terrifying to have to change a cycle and to have to start over. Clinging onto comfort is a basic human trait, and we are all guilty of it. Let me tell you a little story.
When I was 18, I found out that after I finished up my A Levels, I was going to have to move to Singapore. That was difficult. I know I know, first world problems...The thing is, I had been in Malaysia for my entire life, and in the same school for a decade. You might think, what was the big deal Nadia? KL and Singapore are right next to each other, and only a couple of hours away. At the time, the only thing running through my mind was the knowledge that everything that I had known was about to undergo change, and I was 18 and not ready for it.
Then after a few months, I came to see that the move was one of the best things that had ever happened to me. Samantha, whom I have known since my birth, selflessly helped me out. Her friends (you guys know who you are) took me in as one of their own. I will be forever grateful to Samantha and her friends. A few clubbing episodes, one crazy night with my best friend and the evolution of some meaningful friendships opened my eyes. The opportunities in the little red dot we call Singapore were immense, and I had grown to love the nightlife there. I felt safe when I walked down the streets, and almost all of my friends in KL had left to England for their tertiary education.
It was then when I realized this.
You cannot be resistant to change. You have to embrace it with open arms. I had wasted so much time fighting change, when it had actually been a blessing in disguise.
Even in minor circumstances, it can be immensely difficult to leave the familiar behind. I too am often guilty of focusing too much on possible consequences, as opposed to the potentially fantastic rewards. I regularly have to remind myself that nothing monumental can be achieved without challenges. Whether we like it or not, two things cannot be prevented in life; death, and change. Lately, people have been asking me,"Nadia, where are you going to go after you finish your degree?" Two years ago, I would have had an unbreakable, set answer. Today, I am a little more open to the opportunities that life has to throw at me. In case you're wondering, my answer now is "It depends."
Yes, close friends, I can already see you guys countering me with "But Nadia, you are so cynical." I AM cynical, but mostly about matters of the heart; not so much with life and ambition. Yes, I know I need to continue working on that.
In short, sticking to ones comfort zone ensures predictable, good results. However, stepping out of the box gives one a better chance of living life extraordinarily.
Take a risk, and accept the unfamiliar. Change is your friend, not your enemy.
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