Tomorrow, I graduate from Arizona State University with a B.A. in Communication. After being a student at Arizona State University for the past 4 years, I am saying goodbye to this chapter of my life, and hello to a new and exciting new chapter in California/Europe! What a big change this is! Although I am facing huge changes in my life, I am keeping a positive attitude and am so excited for new adventures in this amazing, beautiful, incredible thing called life! This brings me to my topic for today… change.
Of all the things that are uncertain in life, one thing is for certain: Change. Whether your relationship ends, you move to a new state, you say goodbye to friends as you move away, you get a new job, etc, there will constantly be changes in your life. Life is a roller coaster of changes and you can choose to either accept or resist change. Which do you think will make you happier in the long run?
When we accept change, we are living life with arms wide open. We welcome new experiences and know that all changes are a part of this journey we call life. When we resist change, we are only perpetuating unhappiness by wishing things would stay the same… when they can’t.
Whether you experience a small change in life, or a big change, you should stay positive and keep an open mind. If you need a little help with positive thinking, here are some tips to think about change as a positive thing, and not as a negative thing:
1) If there is a change in your life that you cannot control, stop worrying about it! If you can’t do anything about it, then why stress over it? You’re only wasting energy on something out of your control. In reality, you can only adjust your attitude towards certain changes. A positive attitude can make any situation in life easier (and more enjoyable!) to go through!
2) Where’s the good in it?! Even if a change seems scary and overwhelming, find the good in it! There is good in every sitation, sometimes it just takes a little searching. Ask yourself, How will I benefit from this change? Chances are, you are benefiting in ways you aren’t even aware of. Focus on the things you are gaining from the change (even if they seem small!) and not on the things you are losing.
3) View change as an opportunity for personal growth. Changes are in our lives to defeat us, changes are in our lives to challenge us! And when we are challenged, we have an opportunity to become stronger. Ask yorself, How can I grow from this change? When you experience changes, you experience and learn new things, which will both increase your knowledge and help you to grow as a person.
Understand that changes are inevitable in life. Whether they are minor changes or major changes, make the best out of them! Some changes are exciting and desired, while some changes are difficult and unwated. No matter what the change may be, you choose your reaction to every situation in life! Choose to accept the many changes in life, stay positive in all situations, and only then will you be able to call happiness yours!
Happy ch-ch-ch-changing,
Jordan Brown
