Stop being stuck.

Written by Celeste Osborne, LPC-S

We are stuck, in the routine of the day to day, we are stuck in the constant cycle of work, home, eat, sleep. Currently it is more like, wake up, eat, watch tv, sleep, repeat, (thanks Covid). 

But you are incredibly frustrated with this pattern. You are sick to death of being stuck in this pattern of the same old same old, but you don’t do anything new, or make any changes to your life. But you are still frustrated. 

Why are you frustrated? 

Because we have a desire to grow and adapt. I believe this is an inner desire inside of us, a desire that we long for more. We long to be different. To be changed. 

What is stopping you? What stops you from doing something different? 

There is a popular Christian song out today by Micah Tyler that talks about being different and being changed. 

I wanna be different

I wanna be changed

‘Til all of me is gone

And all that remains

Is a fire so bright

The whole world can see

That there’s something different

So come and be different

In me

And I dont wanna spend my life, stuck in a pattern

And I don’t wanna gain this world but lose what matters

And so I’m giving up, everything because

I wanna be different

I wanna be changed

‘Til all of me is gone

And all that remains

Is a fire so bright

The whole world can see

That there’s something different

I love the middle section where it talks about spending our life stuck in a pattern. We get stuck in a pattern where they are just going through the motions, just doing what we have been doing. Where every day is the same. But all the while, we are struggling because we want more. We need more. More connection, more purpose, something different. 

So why don’t we do it. Why don’t we go after something more. Something different? Why don’t we follow through with change? 

I believe its either 1 of 2 things. 

1. We don’t know what to do. 

We don’t know what that more is, we get stuck in the unknown and the indecision. We don’t know what our purpose is, or we don’t know how to figure that out. 

2. I think the more common reason is that, we are scared. We are scared to try something new. We worry about what will happen if we do this thing we are thinking of. 

Maybe we are scared of changing jobs, of dating, of going to college, of meeting people, or making friends.

But what are we really scared of when it comes to something new?

I think we are truly scared of failure. We are scared that we will fail at whatever we are doing. And when we fail, others will be there to look at us and judge us. 

But my question to you, (and what I ask myself daily) why does someone else’s opinion matter to you? How does that person’s opinion of what I am doing change my life? 

Then I ask myself, is what I am doing harmful to myself or others? Is it Unethical, Immoral, or Illegal?

No.

Then what does it matter what that other person thinks? 

It doesn’t matter. 

You have this desire to change something, to be different, to grow, to adapt. So let’s kick the fear to the curb and get to it.

You have this desire to grow and adapt. You long for more. You long to be different. To be changed.

So try this when you notice your are scared of doing the new thing. 

Acknowledge your fear. Acknowledge what is stopping you. 

Now decide what is more important to you. Giving in to this fear? Or being the different person you want to be? Put one foot in front of the other and go. 

So, what area of your life do you want to Be Different? To Be changed?