Is significantly lower than the risk of not changing at all.
Being aware of something that needs to change gets you halfway there. It is common to feel something is not right or that it could be better. That’s the “easy” part. Taking the next step is a completely different story.
Change feels scary because it takes us out of a place we are very used to—a place where we have invested time, energy (physical and emotional), and resources. The sunk costs are high and we’re not good at ignoring sunk costs.
Of course, it is a spectrum. Some changes are more significant than others.
The significance or size of the change is relative to the level of pain or uncomfortableness we experience when we think about it. The more uncomfortable we feel with the change the harder it will be to change.
The other side of the coin is also painful. Our current situation gives us clues and warning signs that become more intense as time passes without us taking any action.
Most people are experts at ignoring those signs, or worse, experts at creating excuses and blaming something external so they’re not responsible for them.
Change finally starts to take place when the pain of our current situation exceeds the pain of changing it, by a lot.
What’s interesting is that for the vast majority of us, there’s not a real existential threat. It’s not a life-or-death situation. So, what is the real risk?
The real risk is staying the same for another five, or ten years, or the rest of our existence. But if we try something new, there’s an opportunity. New doors open. A different perspective. Learning and growth, even if we fail in our first attempts.
Some type of change allows us to come back to the old ways. Perhaps they weren’t real change. Real change will make things completely different for our future.
Change doesn’t happen instantly but we can start to change in an instant. Don’t ignore the warning signs, your instinct is usually right. And it’s on you to start shaping a new reality. The risks are both high and low. It’s up to you.