5 Signs You Need Personal Change
Some people are resistant to change while others thrive. Regardless of what category you fall into, the fact remains that the only constant is change. If you believe that you are averse to change, but have caught yourself thinking of ways to escape your current situation, now is the time to shift your actions. Not sure if you are ready to make a move? Here are some tell-tale signs there’s no time like the present to change your life for the better.
1. You can’t seem to focus and you procrastinate more than usual.
If you find your mind wandering and daydreaming about what you’d rather be doing, take note. People tend to rehearse through daydreams the changes they like to make in their lives and if you often fantasize about the same thing, you have clue to where you need to make a change. When it feels much better to think about the way you wish things would be different, it makes it that much harder to apply yourself to real life. Unsatisfactory reality breeds procrastination; it takes much longer to complete something you do not enjoy.
2. Most of the time you feel irritable and your negativity has been noticed by friends or co-workers.
Literally dragging yourself out of bed and to work everyday is a damper on anyone’s mood. If you can’t remember the last time you were excited to wake up and actually looking forward to tackling the challenges your day inevitably brings, consider looking for a new job. You may not even notice how unhappy you are, but listen when others do. If someone comments on how negative you seem, don’t take offense, but thank them for clarifying this telling sign. Sometimes we get so used to being irritated that we become numb to it and ignorance to our own feelings is sure to cloud judgment on where and when to make a major life change. Ask a friend or a co-worker that has seen you consistently for a number of years and candidly ask them how they perceive your attitude in the setting they know you best. The answer may shock you, but use the new self awareness and knowledge to guide your shifting actions.
3. You constantly sense unsettled, indefinite feelings that you never seem to satisfy.
Noticeable anger and irritation aren’t the only way to tell you need a change. A simple insatiable nagging can be a clue that things aren’t right. Unsettledness can describe feelings when “nothing’s wrong, but nothing’s right” and situations where “there’s just something missing.” If these phrases ring true for you, you aren’t living life, life is living you. Notice the times when your apathy leaves you unsatisfied because it’s usually a sign that deep down you know you need a change, but you aren’t 100% sure on what to change or how to do it. One way to gain awareness of underlying discomfort is to picture your ideal life and compare it to your reality. Truly imagine what you’d be like in you perfect life, even down to your clothing, and notice how it’s different than the present.
4. A major life goal or unfulfilled dream is as incomplete as it was at least a year ago.
Maybe you know what your ideal life is like, but you haven’t done anything to get there yet. The number one reason people don’t actively pursue their dreams is fear. Stretching yourself and going outside of your comfort zone to complete a major life goal is scary. Nothing that is really worth it is ever easy. Notice your natural tendencies to say “what if” and all the ifs, ands and buts you can come up with. Choose to see the excuses and scariness as helpful; go towards them, follow the fear which will guide your path of change.
5. You notice yourself actively seeking inspiration.
Perhaps you aren’t fully self-aware of your feelings, no one has commented on your sub-par attitude, and there aren’t any goals you recall setting that you’ve blown off. Another clue to a need for change is if you find yourself becoming steadfast in your search for inspiration. Observe the articles that catch your attention and what section of the bookstore you choose to browse. Notice if you feel yourself gravitating toward subjects that instills a desire to be different. Needing to make a life change isn’t always obvious. Life doesn’t come with a manual detailing the areas of your life you need to change and when. When you encounter inspiration and you find yourself seeking more of whatever it may be; don’t ignore it. Go towards it and allow it to lead you to what could be bigger change than you could ever imagine.
If more than half of these signs describe you, do at least one thing different- even if it’s something small- to work toward changing your life. And maybe you don’t want everything in your life to change, but making a major change in one area of your life can enhance all aspects of your life.
Tags: change, need to make a change, signs
