Change: Feared, Embraced, or Escaped

Change is constant, yet it’s one of the most difficult things for many of us to deal with. We say we want growth, improvement, and progress, but when it comes wrapped in the uncertainty of change, we flinch. I’ve come to realize that change wears many faces, sometimes it’s exciting, other times it’s painful, and occasionally, it’s just plain confusing. But one thing is certain, it never leaves you the same.

I remember a time when I was forced into change. It wasn’t the kind I prayed for, it wasn’t gentle, it came like a storm and scattered every structure I had carefully built in my life. I feared it, I cried over it, I even tried to run from it, but looking back, it was necessary.

Fear is often our first response to change because we associate comfort with safety. We feel safe in what we know, even when it’s no longer good for us. Fear tells us that stepping out of a familiar job, a city, a relationship, or even a mindset might lead to regret. But the truth is, fear only wins when we refuse to look beyond the temporary discomfort of the unknown.

Then there’s the other side of change, the one we choose to embrace. There are moments in life when something inside us whispers, “It’s time.” Time to let go, time to move, time to become, and when we listen to that voice, even though it may scare us, we begin to experience a different kind of freedom. Change embraced is growth accepted. It may still come with tears, but this time, there’s peace in the process.

But sometimes, we try to escape change altogether. We ignore signs, delay decisions, or distract ourselves with routine just to avoid dealing with what's asking to shift. But no matter how far we run, change will always catch up. Life will find a way to push us out of where we no longer belong.
I've learned that change doesn't always come with clear instructions. Sometimes it’s messy, silent, or unplanned. It might show up as a closed door or a failed plan, other times, it enters through deep restlessness in your soul. And while not all change is easy, I’ve come to believe that most of it is necessary, especially for becoming who we’re truly meant to be.

I now try to welcome change more gently. I try to ask myself, What is this moment trying to teach me, instead of Why is this happening to me?
That shift in mindset has made the process more bearable.

Change might not always feel good at the start, but sometimes what feels like the end is really just the beginning of something better. Growth isn’t always loud, sometimes, it's simply the quiet decision to let go, to trust, and to move forward even when the road isn’t clear.

So whether you fear it, embrace it, or try to escape it, change will find you. The beauty is in how you respond.