I love hearing about people who managed to turn their lives around. For years, they were working at the restaurant or a store they hated. Maybe, they were making coffee for grumpy customers every day at 5 in the morning without ever getting decent tips. Then boom — they get a new job, go back to school, or just find the yoga classes nearby, and if you see them in a few months you keep wondering — what the hell happened with Kate? Why does she keep smiling?
🪴 Everything changes
In movies, they tend to skip the powerful transformational period when a person gives up the things they are comfortable with to pursue something completely new. In my personal experience, this time in between, be it days, months, or years, is what shapes us the most. But we all human and we are all afraid, that’s a fact. It’s pretty hard to find any decent data on this topic (and I love data, forgive me!) but here is one article from 2018. I don’t think our fears changed much in a few years…even though 2020 could have an impact on these answers. But more or less we are afraid of the same things and most of the things on this chart can be summed up with one word — “change”.
I am afraid of not having as much money as I have now so I won’t be able to buy pretty clothes from Uniqlo, it’s a change for me. I’m afraid of losing people I love, it will change my life a lot. I'm afraid of this planet changing. Why can’t everything just stay as is?
When life is more or less stable it’s one thing. But when everything is rapidly changing (COVID we are looking at you right now) who wants even more changes? Nobody. So this year, just like in 2020, we need to find some extra motivation and support to quit doing what we were always doing and start something else. Maybe a new job. Maybe start sharing your drawings with the world more. Maybe start writing even if English is not your first language. Maybe buy that online course and stick with it. Whatever it is, the important point is just to start somewhere. We don’t live in the movie so fast-forwarding to success is not an option. And why would we do that? This period of change is the most thrilling one because it changes your perception of who you really are. “I’m not into sports…I can’t draw”. And then, you get the first compliment and see at least the tiny results and realize that you were wrong.
You don’t fit in a box, you can be anything.
🌼 Cheer up, my friend
I am lucky to have a lot of friends who managed to turn their lives around. A lot of them are immigrants, just like me, who started their lives in the US with $300 in a pocket. It’s amazing to see how their small, baby steps led them to where they are now.
Sometimes, I wish I could collect these inspiring stories in a big, colorful book with thick, glossy pages and give a copy to all who are in doubt and afraid of change. So every time you think “yes but what if…” you can replace it with “yes but why not” and come up with three ideas that you can do in the next few months to be a little closer to where you want to be. Just write them down and do those things one by one — in a few months, just look back and notice your progress. The fear will be with you either way so why bother? Here are my 3 ideas for the next few months that will bring me closer to what I want to do:
- Draw more, share my work (and don’t be afraid of the feedback)
- Post one article on Medium every Friday (consistency!)
- Online learning — finish an Add Magic course, take a drawing course on Skillshare, practice React and finish my portfolio.
I’m posting this article right now, and it’s Friday in my calendar, so I feel good about it. Even if I miss a week or don’t do something from that list, I would still feel like I’m on the right track. The most important thing is that I, and not my fears, choose what to do with my life. And I’m loving it.
