The Power of Change and New Perspectives

Blog Posts 4 Minutes

“The only thing you sometimes have control over is perspective. You don’t have control over your situation. But you have a choice about how you view it.” – Chris Pine

The Power of Change and New Perspectives

 

A stimulus is always needed for growth; whether it’s an exercise to strain the muscles and cardiovascular system, or whether it’s a mental struggle that tests your capabilities and helps you to discover more about yourself. There will always be a need for new stimulus to bring about rewarding changes in your life.

Change
“No, not those changes. This isn’t Vegas.”

The human mind is naturally inclined to stay comfortable if it can. Challenges are stressful on the mind and body at first, but challenging the mind to grow is quite similar to strengthening the body towards growth. Like a muscle, too much challenge can begin to break you down over time. Too little challenge and there’s not enough stimulus to actually gain anything out of it. The trick is to find that sweet spot where it’s just the right amount of challenge to encourage personal growth without harming your well-being.

If you’re the type of person that is comfortable in your own little area of the world, perhaps challenge yourself one day to take a trip and visit somewhere new! If you’re a picky eater and prefer to eat the same things day in and day out, challenge yourself and try a food that’s out of your comfort zone. If you only listen to one type of music or watch one type of television show, break out of that bubble and try something new!

Life might have so much more to offer to you then what you’ve allowed yourself to take in, and who knows, you might find something that becomes a new favorite of yours. But, you sure as well won’t find it doing the same old things over and over again.

Travel itself is amazing for pushing people out of their comfort zones, because sometimes in other countries and other cultures, there is no choice but to be forced into new kinds of experiences. As frightening as that can be at times, in the aftermath of it all you will reap rewards and life lessons.

Backpacking

I remember when I first started to travel how many incorrect beliefs I had about the world which I needed to re-write in my mind with actual truths. Like, although most countries do have their own music and TV shows/movies, so many listen to American music and watch American programming. I wasn’t expecting that.

Also, most other countries drink espresso coffee and I didn’t know even know what the hell a Flat White was when I first arrived in New Zealand. “How the hell do I just order my coffee with two milk and two sugar?”, I thought to myself, “And why’s it so expensive?”. I can laugh about it now, but I was ignorant to certain things. It also taught me that I love espresso.

Another thing that I learned by travelling and living with others from all over the world, was just how much slang I had been using in my English vocabulary. I was hard to understand sometimes to foreigners that I would meet, because I used too much unfamiliar Ontario slang. I began to make serious efforts to express myself more  meaningfully with correct English after that, and it’s helped me to be a better communicator.

Slang

Travelling with only a backpack taught me that I didn’t need a bunch of possessions to find happiness in life. Travelling without my laptop because I used to spend way too much time playing video games on it, taught me that I love to read and I love to write.

So much depth can be brought into our lives if we only open ourselves up to change and some struggle! Whether it’s the change of a career, change of location, change of interest, it doesn’t really matter. Just an openness to experiencing life outside of what is already known is what matters, because that is where you will discover more about life and about yourself. 🙂

If you are stuck in life, don’t be embarrassed. We all get stuck in routines from time to time. Sometimes we need a push to get back to really living. I’ve had those experiences as well. I’ve been stuck in jobs that have left me feeling incomplete and in relationships that make me feel like I’m drowning. It can happen and it can be exhausting, but just try to learn from those experiences for the future so that you can catch yourself when you’re in a rut.

Stuck

When in a rut, we just need to remember to bring some sort of change into our lives. It’s the only way we are going to escape this feeling of being stagnant.

If life is a big bowl of wet noodles, then the number of experiences we bring into our lives is going to make that wicked sauce for flavor. Every experience we take in is another ingredient or spice added to the mix. If made correctly, it’s a heaping pile of deliciousness with lots of cheese or whatever the hell you like on your pasta.

Noodles

Spoiler alert: if you like your noodles plain, then you are actually the wet noodle.

I guess the moral of this blog post is to keep things fresh and interesting. Continue to encourage growth in your life. We all go through changes in our lives and we all risk becoming stagnant at times too. Self-awareness will be integral to catching ourselves in these highs and lows in order react appropriately to our circumstances. So, as a wise man once said, “Check yourself, before you wreck yourself!“.

Learn to love the life you live, and if you don’t love it, change it!

What’s something you’ve tried which scared you, but you’ve ended up loving? Comment below!

Advertisement

Published by The Wolf Boy

Philosophy and English Student. Crypto Enthusiast. Philosopher. Writer. Father. Rebel. Stoic.

Published

46 thoughts on “The Power of Change and New Perspectives”

  1. Yes mine was change but then I grew to love it. I decided to give everything up that I know and that was familiar to me to go traveling. I go at the end of the month. It is something I have wanted to do for years. I had a beautiful life but things felt stagnant (my soul yearned to travel and to be free) and I knew that only I could facilitate that change and so I did it. The moment I made that decision and focused on my future as well as took action a way was made. I think travel is in my blood and for the first time in my life I am going to be a nomad but it just feels right and I am in flow. Yes I agree we all get stuck in routines from time to time but once we give ourselves that push then we can get moving again. Thanks for your inspiring blog. I enjoyed reading it. Your thoughts resonated with me and the blog was very helpful

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hey! Your story resonates with me as well. When I was 22 I left my stagnant life to go travelling the same way that you have and it was the best decision that I had ever made in life. I wish you all the best and hope you soak in all of those unique experiences you will encounter so far from home. Thanks for reading. I wish you all the best.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Hey, I am glad that my story resonated with you too. That is so good to hear and very inspiring and encouraging. Thank you very much. You are welcome and I am looking forward to reading more about your adventure. All the best to you

        Liked by 1 person

      1. since we have a son in Hawaii, we have been there a few times. Last year I had the chance to teach in London for a couple of months, so we did a lot of traveling then. In a few months I’ll be going to Singapore to teach for a couple of months, and so we hope to do some traveling around that part of the world. How about you? Any favorites?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Wow Jim. You’re quite the seasoned traveler. What do you teach exactly?

        The most traveling I’ve ever really done was all in the span of two years shortly after graduating college. I took 2 years to live and work in New Zealand and Australia. Best thing I ever did. New Zealand will always have a special place in my heart. What was your fave?

        Like

      3. I teach Accounting (that usually puts an end to any conversation). As to favorite places – London, Amsterdam, Barcelona – too hard to pick! Australia and New Zealand are on our bucket list That must have been great to spend such an extended time period somewhere like that – you really get to know the place.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Hahaha! Yeah I did get to really know the place, I don’t know if I loved it so much that I wanted to stay for 2 years or I just didn’t want to come home to my chaotic family 😛

        Accounting, okay, I could see that! So you must be a math pro then. Did you visit a cafe in amsterdam for a little smoke session?

        I havent been to any of those countries

        Liked by 1 person

      5. I’m not sure if that is good that you could see me as an accounting teacher 🙂 We did not get to visit a “coffeeshop” in Amsterdam – we wanted to save something for our return visit!

        Liked by 1 person

  3. I love this post so much!! Change can be scary, but like you said we will never know if we don’t try.

    It wasn’t out of the country, but when I was in my early twenties I traveled by myself for the very first time, I remember feeling a little anxious that I would get lost in the airport or something (oh, my naive, twenty something brain) but I didn’t let it stop me. I flew to California & I did so much site seeing & trying new cuisines, & listening to bands I had never heard before. It was the time of my life! I truly have a gypsy soul, something about traveling, even just talking about it now has me feeling elated! My heart is just jumping at the chance to go on another adventure!

    I am hoping to go to the Grand Canyon next spring. It’s a bucket list item of mine, so I’m really excited. My soul longs to visit Scotland, I will get there someday!! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I hear you! I also have the heart of a wanderer. Have you ever watched Into the Wild? That was a big influence on me, I’d even written a post about it. I was terrified to travel alone when I was 22 also, but in retrospect, my solo travels have always been my favorite. You get to move at your own pace, do your own things and you tend to socialize more with others outside of your group. (At least that’s how it works for me).

      The Grand Canyon is still a yet to see landmark for me. I would love to spend more time in California too. I’ve only spent a lot of time at the LAX in between flights. 😛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. It’s so funny you mention that. I actually haven’t seen Into the Wild (I know, such shame!) I really want to, and just yesterday I was thinking about how I need to watch it! I will have to go check out your post!

        I enjoyed traveling solo, it was an experience I still hold very close to my heart. My brother lives in California, so I’ve been a few times, but I still never get to see everything I want to when I visit. My favorite places so far have been Caramel, Yosemite, and Sequoia National Forrest. I have a love for trees, especially old ones. Yosemite was absolutely breath taking!

        Liked by 1 person

  6. We will soon attempt our fifth European trek; every one has taken us far beyond our routines and comforts. If this one is like the others, it will join our highlight reel. Keep on writing your thoughtful posts; we all need reminders!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. “So much depth can be brought into our lives if we only open ourselves up to change and some struggle!”

    This statement shoots arrows straight to my heart! I love it ….. it penetrates my soul. I mean, while I’m at the point of struggling, it’s not like I’m jumping for joy, haha! But it’s the attitude I actually choose to have during that moment that spells the difference. After all, we always have a choice. And that’s what I love about life. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. Wowohaaw… spot on… kaboom…
    My feelings today… and when I read this I thought you were a smart young boy and this is really good🙏🏻
    It was a journey to me to read your words….and how it ends-wow- you nailed some wise words into my soul❤️Thank you👏🏻
    But, this change is also a little daunting, as I have it now, but it will be great in the end….🎶
    I hope you are well❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I wish I knew what you were talking about. 😉
      Change is always daunting and my life is full of upcoming changes to – I know those words I speak, but even I am daunted by my changes. It’s okay to feel those anxieties a little. Just try to embrace it and trust you will be okay! You’re a strong fighter and survivor. ❤ Hope you're well too.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Yes, it is, but I can’t grow the anxiety ..
        It is challenging, but I will win this match and it is never wrong to improve for the better❤️
        Thank you for having faith in me…
        We are both fighters and survivors my friend.
        Take care.

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Great post Mathew. Wow, backpack travelling sounds nice, always admire them when I see them. In my opinion people who travels in any kind of way gets more experience and wisdom such as you, and that makes them more flexible and able to adopt change or tougher to try new things.
    The stuff I tried which I was scared of? Plenty. So much I can write a book about them.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Please log in using one of these methods to post your comment:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s