'Now Is the Time - 170 ways to seize the moment' by Patrick Lindsay

No. 3

'choose freedom

Too often we make our own cages:

of the mind, or the heart.

Or we allow technology to make them for us.

But we have the keys to unlock them.

We only need the will to use them.

Unlock your heart, love freely.

Unlock your mind, live freely.'

'The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage.' 

Thucydides (460-404 BC)

Having the courage to try something new or make changes in our lives can be overwhelmingly one of the hardest challenges we ever have to face for a multitude of reasons. We get comfortable in our lives, jobs or situations and when it all boils down, it all depends on how uncomfortable we are prepared to tolerate before we are pushed, tipulated (I think I just made up a new word - I'm leaving it there because I like it), or shoved over the edge.

Remember when we were young and carefree? (If you're reading this and you fall into the young and carefree category, then please don't stop reading, take notes.) So, back to the mature acorns on the tree, do you remember? Do you remember how much easier it was to take risks and how we weren't too burdened by the consequences? It seemed easier to change jobs, move around, fall in and out of love and try out new stuff.

The longer we are around on the planet, and depending upon the choices we make, commitment to studies, careers, communities and partners slides into place and before we know it, we are caged, in some respects, of our own making. Now this alone is not a bad thing at all. We wouldn't do it if it was. However, once we've set our personal cages around us, when we do want to make a change because we discover we actually don't really like our choice, or we've changed our mind, that's when the fun begins. The stakes are higher because we've invested, sometimes greatly, into these different areas of our lives, and depending upon what stage of commitment we are at bears directly upon how much we are willing to lose or make change for.

We do need to be courageous to effect change, but we also need to remember to have balance to be effective while we are making the change/s...because sometimes these changes include and involve those we love. Change always impacts those around us, there's no way to avoid it. 

We only get to live one life so we need to make the most of it. We need to consider others, but we also need to consider ourselves. No one can make us happy. We are responsible for our own happiness and we need to nurture that. Our happiness will spill over on those around us. If we walk around with heavy hearts waiting for someone to cheer us up and they do happen along, it will only be a bandaid fix up.

Plan the change/s and consider all options. Write down the positives, negatives and consequences. Visualise - try it on and see what happens...then, seize the moment - and have fun...