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Writer's pictureNick Smith

Embrace the Change: The Journey from Playing Small to Living Large


A cartoon image of an old-fashioned man yelling at a lightbulb in a lamppost for taking the job of a candle
 

Key takeaways:

  1. Change is inevitable; Adaptation is optional.

  2. The fear of change often holds us back from becoming who we want to be.

  3. Adapting to change is not about losing yourself, but about personal growth and transformation.

  4. Embracing change is about choosing to live large and becoming the person you've always dreamed of being.

 

Life's a constant flux. It's a continuous, ever-evolving stream of new ideas, new technologies, and new ways of thinking.


Now, there's a five-dollar phrase to describe this phenomenon: Change is inevitable. But while change is certain, how we react to it isn't. That's where the second part of our phrase comes in: Adaptation is optional.


Picture this: An era when humans were just discovering the marvels of electricity. The night, once a black canvas dotted with starlight, could now be banished with the flick of a switch. The humble lightbulb, an invention that would revolutionize the world, was born. Yet, there were probably people who yelled at these glowing orbs, cursing them for changing the use of fire.


"Why do we need this newfangled contraption when we've got perfectly good candles?" they might have grumbled, casting suspicious glances at the warm, steady glow of the lightbulb. But as time went on, they had to adapt, or they were left in the literal dark.


Fast-forward a few years, and we see the rise of automobiles. Sleek, powerful, and a whole lot faster than a horse could ever dream to be. Yet, there were probably those who bemoaned the change. "What's wrong with our horses? They don't belch smoke or scare the chickens with their noise," they may have ranted.


Yet, just like with the lightbulb, adaptation wasn't just a choice—it was a necessity for progress. Those who didn't adapt were left in the proverbial dust of the fast-moving cars.


Here's where our friend Charles Darwin comes into play. He didn't say it was the survival of the fittest, as in the strongest or the most intelligent. No, it was the survival of the fittest, as in the most adaptable to change. Those species that could roll with the punches, adjust their sails to new winds—they were the ones who survived and thrived.


So, if change is inevitable and adaptation is optional, why do we often resist? It's simple: Fear. We fear the unknown. We fear what the new might bring, and how it might alter our comfortable lives. We fear that by embracing change, we might lose a part of ourselves, or worse, become someone we don't recognize.


But here's the paradox: How many of us won't let ourselves become who we say we'd like to become because we're afraid of the change that might occur? We dream of becoming more—more confident, more successful, more content. Yet, we're held back by the fear of what we might need to change to become that person.


Here's the thing: Adapting to change isn't about losing yourself. It's about growth. It's about shedding the layers that no longer serve us, unbecoming anything that makes us feel small. It's about standing tall, living large, and embracing our inner giants.


Remember, it's about growing into a Giant. It's about acknowledging our fears, our hesitations, and then choosing to adapt, to grow despite them. It's about recognizing that while we might not control the changes that life throws our way, we do control how we respond to them.


Change, dear friends, is inevitable. But adaptation? That's a choice. A choice to grow, to evolve, to live large. So next time change comes knocking, don't slam the door in its face. Invite it in, offer it a cup of tea, and see how it can help you become the person you've always dreamed of being.



This article was created in collaboration with AI.

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