Remember when you made your first adult decision; whether it be picking the college you would earn a degree from four years later, or deciding which car to buy and depend on for the next several years or even moving to a new location? And you couldn’t help but think to yourself how scared you were or what was to come after this change? In that moment, you made a decision that would in some degree change some aspect of your life and consequently help you grow into the person you want to be.

The predetermined idea is that change is bad, but learning from my past AND present, I can truthfully tell you that is absolutely silly. Change helps you grow intellectually, spiritually and mentally. Without change, you would still be who you were five years ago, and I’m not sure about you, but I thank God I’m not who I was five years ago! Change helps you determine who you’re going to be and how you will present yourself in the future.

So why are people so afraid of change? One word: Comfort. We get so comfortable being where we are in life, in jobs or even just being with someone, but are you really even happy when you’re stuck in those situations? Change is just the opposite. It’s uncomfortable, and I don’t know anyone that wants, likes or even chooses to feel uncomfortable. But if people could just think of the bigger picture and realize who they’re going to be once they’re transformation is complete, I think change could come a lot easier to people and even open their minds to changing their surroundings more often.

Now, I’m not saying to transfer schools every other year, or to move from job to job or from place to place, but I am saying to reach out and try new things more often. Try something you’ve always wanted to do, but never had the courage to. Try something that will ultimately make you happy.

Changing your surroundings challenges you to become a more independent and strong individual. It’s a natural part of life, and frankly, it’s inevitable. So, why not make the best of every single situation thrown your way, good or bad? Something positive can almost always be taken away from external change (jobs, family matters, relationships). For example, I just recently got out of a three year long, on and off relationship, which was hands down, one of the hardest things I’ve ever done/gone through. But I know, that if I hadn’t have gone through that, I would still be that naïve, scared and not confident girl I was three years back.

Change ensures that bad situations end. It’s your ticket out of any situation or any place where you are unhappy or unfulfilled. Change means progress. Just look at how much you’ve changed within the past year! The bottom line of this article is to just let you know that change will happen anyways; whether you want it to or not. It’s undeniable and it’s detrimental to your personal development. Change will not stop and ask you for your permission, it will happen whether you consent for it or not. However, there are some changes you have control over, so I ask you to embrace that and let it make you a better person. So, here’s to who I am today, who I was in the past and who I will be in the future. Stay positive, friends! Change is a process, not an event.