The Power of Letting Go: How Embracing Change Transformed my Life
Giving up control is scary. Growing up, so many of the changes imposed in my life were out of my control. I escaped a bloody war in the Middle East. I was forced to immigrate to a country where I could not speak the language. I later moved to the Gulf for my family. Throughout university, I moved cities, programs, and countries every. single. year. Change was inevitable. I reached a point where I stopped trying to settle down. I was convinced I would be moving again anyway so why get attached to anything? While a constant change of environment would push others to be more flexible, it pushed me to control the minuscule details of my life. I clung to the familiarity of waking up at the same time, completing my workout at the same gym, preparing my meals in the same way, using the same study habits, working the same long hours, and going to bed on a schedule. I became robotic — a mannerism that comforted me throughout the ups and downs of my life.
Cansbridge entered my life the way many other changes have — by chance. I was part of an entrepreneurship ecosystem on Slack, where I had been inactive for a year. I rarely check that channel, but as fate would have it, I did one day. Hidden among the millions of Slack messages was an application for the Cansbridge Fellowship, a program that provides university students with the opportunity to become a part of an entrepreneurial cohort, attend a boot camp, and take part in an internship in Asia for the summer. At a glance, Cansbridge represented everything a younger version of myself would have resented — unpredictability, unfamiliarity, and uncertainty. So, why even apply?
I contemplated Cansbridge for a long time before submitting my application. I realized that the best way to rewrite my narrative is to impose my own change. This was the beginning of my journey to finding acceptance, discovering myself, and reaching a sense of fulfillment.
Phase 1: Acceptance
The path to acceptance was not a smooth one. At every turn, I resisted the challenges Cansbridge imposed on me. Upon hearing that the 2022 cohort would be the first to work in Asia post-COVID, I could not deny my twinge of disappointment. Despite my decision to self-impose large-scale change, I struggled with the thought of transitioning to a new environment yet again. My subconscious nature was acting against my conscious decision to alter my perspective. During my internship search, I found myself applying to large western companies. I selected countries around the world that were not too far off from the environment I was used to. I was subconsciously sabotaging my opportunity to experience personal and professional growth. My bad habit of creating a controlled environment for myself had taken over. With two months left until the conference, I had numerous job offers in Canada and two global job offers I was considering — an account management role at a worldwide media agency in London, and a finance internship at an expanding FinTech company in Indonesia. My friends and family advised me to either work in Canada or London at a reputable agency. Working at a large agency in the Western world would be familiar, structured, and comforting. My inner voice told me that this was everything I ever wanted — the chance to be a Cansbridge fellow without the scary changes that come with it. If I were to take the finance intern role at the emerging FinTech company, I would be working in multiple departments to build the organization from the ground up in a location even the founders were not familiar with.
Fast-forward 4 months - I’ve launched the second branch of Stockbit & Bibit, Indonesia’s fastest-growing FinTech platform, in Kuala Lumpur. I’ve studied the Southeast Asian stock market, held investor briefings with Malaysian and Singaporean multinational companies, built the Stockbit platform, and helped market the company's social media to over 12k followers. To get to that point, I underwent a massive internal and external discovery process.
Phase 2: Discovery
Kuala Lumpur was everything I’d imagined it’d be and more. Gorgeous landscape, delicious food, and some of the most hospitable people I’ve ever met — Malaysia quickly became one of my favourite travel destinations. From impromptu chats with the locals to meetings with board members of multinational companies, there was so much to learn about this nation that became my home for the summer. Throughout my time there, I found familiarity in the details — the lush mountains that resembled my village in the Middle East, the melting pot of ethnicities you find in the communities of Toronto, and the tall skyscrapers that had previously towered over me in Dubai. I realized that in my quest for resistance; I had neglected how constant change had transformed me into the person I am today. From that point forward, my life would never be the same. I began backpacking Malaysia and Singapore, sightseeing in random cities with no plan, no tour guide, and 150 ringgit in my pocket. I visited temples, climbed mountains, and explored UNESCO world heritage sites which helped me deeply understand the rich history of this beautiful country. Outside of exploring different regions of Malaysia, solo travelling helped me better understand myself. By the end of my journey, my worldview was transformed. I emerged more confident, adaptable, and fulfilled. After 15 years, I finally embraced change.
Phase 3: Fulfillment
As I transition to yet another foreign city, I feel like a weight has been lifted. The internal work I’ve done over the past 6 months has left me feeling at peace. There are still moments where thoughts of leaving everything behind arise. Thoughts of returning to the familiar. Even the most flexible mind requires time to adapt to a new environment. The difference is that I’ve taken that first step to acceptance and discovery. I actively resist the urge to return to my comfort zone. I try to understand and rationalize my subconscious thoughts. I give myself the time and space to feel comfortable in a new environment. Challenging my long-standing perspective left me feeling fulfilled. I stepped out of my comfort zone, not because I had to, but because I wanted to. I know another large-scale change is coming my way. Change is inevitable. This time, I’m ready to embrace it.
