Change has a price.
We all go through changes in our lives. We all seek to improve our lives, whether it is health, relationships, work, or lifestyle. Many times, changing or doing something new is challenging, even a bit scary.
I remember a high school counselor suggested that I take a class in public speaking. The counselor's suggestion was the last thing I wanted to do since I was terrified of the thought of speaking before a group of people. So, when the counselor made the suggestion, an irrational fear arose in me, and my instinctive reaction was to say, "No way!”
I didn't know what to expect, but I was sure it wouldn’t be good. I wanted to step back from making a change that, on some level, I knew would help improve my life. Eventually, I relented and agreed to take the class. It helped me immensely in ways I never imagined.
Initially, I was unwilling to pay the price of making a change. When we want to make a change in our lives, there is a cost of admission. When we go to an amusement park like Disneyland, we have to pay to go through the turnstile to enter the park and enjoy the rides.
Change is like that.
Often, we may walk up to the turnstile, decide not to pay the price of admission, and say something along the lines of, "This is uncomfortable. I don't like this at all." So we leave the park and don't get the opportunity to experience the awe and wonder that awaits on the other side. We dash the goals and dreams of our hearts because we thought it just wasn't worth the price.
There are several costs of admission to enter the gates of change, but one stands out. Once you realize this price, you can consciously choose and ask, "Is it worth it or not for me to pay the price?"
So, what is the price of admission to the other side of change?
It’s uncertainty.
When you go through a change in your life or take on something new, you don't know how it will turn out. If you start a new eating plan, you may wonder if it will go as planned. You may move to Hawaii and leave where you have lived all your life, as well as the relationships you've developed. Will it work out? You don't know.
Uncertainty is unsettling because we might lose something we are familiar with. We may not be happy with the usual, but we're okay. However, letting go of the routine can be scary.
But that is the price of admission for change. We pay that price when we can say, "I accept the fact I'm not going to know what in the world will happen. Yet I'm going for it anyway. I'm going to explore the uncharted water. It may turn out differently than I planned it. But I'm going to bring out the best of who I am, trust Spirit, and believe in my ability to navigate through the change.
The price is a willingness to let go of everything we think we know, releasing what we want it to be like, dropping the need for permission or perfection, and just giving it a go. That is the cost of admission for change - going through the turnstile to the land of the unknown. When you do, in your unique way, you become like those adventurous souls who have moved the needle of history.
Peace and Blessings,
James