Sorry But You Can’t Grow Without Change

Now that I have just turned 24, I sat down to look back at myself as a whole. Seeing how much I have grown over the years and how much more growing I need to do. But I can actively say I am happy. It is so hard to look at yourself and say I need to do this, but when you do it, it’s the greatest feeling. Knowing how much I’ve evolved in the last couple of years as a person is one my biggest achievements. I am truly proud of myself and I feel as though that is something we all should appreciate.

Change is one of those things that can be scary but so beneficial. I was one of those people who felt like, I was who I was. I was messed up, and you either dealt with it or you don’t…period. I did not feel the need to change myself because I thought it was a lost cause. Thought that I just simply could not do it and that it was too late anyway, I was just stuck in my ways. I was wrong. So very wrong. Eventually, I realized that I was not happy with the person I was nor the person I was beginning to turn into just because I felt as though I was fine how I was, regardless of the fact it was self-destructing. I am naturally stubborn, do not like arguing but can be very argumentative, and I wore my heart on my sleeve, I was extremely sensitive and let people get to me very easily and therefore retaliated just as fast. This was tearing me up inside because I knew this was not the person I am or the person I am supposed to become.

So I started to make my changes. Did they happen overnight? Hell no, some things I am still working on, and other things I did not realize it was a problem until recently. Although it was intimidating and felt impossible, within time I and those around me saw the changes. I just had to constantly remind myself, “Hey just chill” or “Remember, Makayla, do better.” Honestly! Those were the thoughts I kept in my mind to have those changes made.

Everyone screams of growth! Always talking about bettering themselves and being a better person but then don’t want to change. How do you expect to grow as a person if you aren’t learning from your prior mistakes? Learning from your experiences, figuring out how to become a better you. And don’t mistake change as losing yourself. That’s what I did. You don’t have to lose yourself, it is an improvement of you. As humans, we are constantly evolving, physically, mentally, and emotionally. So it is necessary to get rid of bad habits and fertilize the good ones. As I said before, there are things that I did not see as an issue until now. I may have changed one aspect of myself but within time and growing as a person I saw something else I may want to alter. That is what growth is. Not just saying and pretending, but actually DOING. Taking the effort to make that change.

And do not worry about those around you. People who care about you will see that you are growing for yourself and will always be there for you regardless. The people who complain that you are changing are jealous and scared that you are becoming a better person and are able to make that change. Usually, they are scared that they are going to lose you. Those are people that you may have to leave during your growth process too or reassure them that you will always be there but this has to be done for you. Sometimes your friends and family are not always on the same path of growth and that is fine, but never hinder your growth because of them and don’t look down upon them because they are not there in their lives yet. Change is scary but it is necessary. Don’t get stuck in your ways. Don’t keep yourself in a small-minded box. There is always room for improvement, no matter the age or the times. There is no expiration date on growth, just in opportunities. So don’t miss that life-changing opportunity all because you were scared to change. You will only hinder yourself. Remember that you are worth it, and if you love and believe in yourself, change isn’t scary at all.