You always have a choice. Always.
Let’s say you are working at a job that you really don’t like. You have bills to pay, mouths to feed, student loan debt, and numerous other responsibilities that require money to satisfy.
Each morning, you wake up feeling totally stuck. You feel as though you have no choice but to endure this job, because, well, you have responsibilities!
But,
You do have a choice.
You really don’t have to stay at that job (or relationship, or place, or …). You are not stuck there. (Unless you are under a contractual obligation to do so, but that’s another story!)
Yes, I know what you are thinking: RE-SPONS-IBILITIES. And I hear ya. I’ve got plenty of them myself (where do you think that list in the first paragraph came from?!).
And here’s the TRUTH.
You stay there because it’s easier. It’s what you know. You know what to expect and how to handle it (mostly). Making a different choice involves uncertainty, unknowns, risks, challenges … and here’s the usual deal-breaker in making a different choice: IT TAKES WORK.
You stay there because allowing yourself to have a choice means you have to come face-to-face with you. All of you. Your potential, your stamina, your desires, your willingness to kick yourself in the pants and do what needs to be done in order to change your situation.
You stay there because, as much as it sucks, it feels safe.
And the possibility of facing failure feels worse than staying put. And, that’s not easy. Choosing to do something different is not easy. Trust me, that’s one of the hardest things you’ll ever do in your life.
Is it worth it?
Well, that’s up to you to decide.
And is now the right time to make these changes?
Again, totally up to you.
Yet, there is one thing I know for sure (and you can quote me on this):
Nothing will ever change unless you change it.
-Gabriela Brunner
Photo by Chris Barbalis on Unsplash