Change – why is it that this word has the power to elucidate the deepest fear in some, and the greatest excitement in others?
Change is something that all of us have gotten very familiar with over the past year. As we prepare to move to a different country once again, it is natural to feel a wide range of emotions. While it can be daunting to leave everything behind, remember that this change broadens our horizons and allows us to have new and exciting experiences. Our fellow Nabila identifies as a change-maker, and has some valuable insights on how to navigate change.
Nabila herself has gone through plenty of change throughout her life and career, and when discussing her biggest initial misconception about change, she touches on the idea that successful changes rely on how you approach them instead of the change itself, stating, “The process of change-making requires compassion and a mindset oriented toward understanding, insight, stamina, and influence. Your capacity to be complicit with others in a manner that is fair and kind and has a long-term view is key. (…) How you choose to make change makes all the difference.”
Some key tips Nabila offered include:
- “Accept that life offers nothing but change” – nothing is constant in this world (other than death and taxes, of course)
- “Know yourself and your anchors” – know yourself inside and out, and know which core values and beliefs anchor you as a person. Since nothing is constant in your life except for yourself, you cannot rely on temporary or ever-changing factors to dictate how you move through life.
- “Be open to the unexpected” – change always comes with unexpected outcomes; that’s inevitable. You have to remember that every change brings personal growth, and that “the view from the top (of the mountain) will be nothing you will have seen before and this perspective will inform what you do next.”
When asked about how she built up the courage to facilitate change, Nabila had a very powerful answer that I think we all should hear, especially after going through the difficulties and challenges of exam periods. She says:
Not to choose challenges out of fear of failing or pain is a pity. If you are someone who sees themselves as ambitious, be ready, be a warrior. The higher your aims, the harder it will be and you will fail. Welcome it and move on.
I think this tough love is exactly what a lot of us need. We are human, we will fail. There is nothing else to do but move on. The most important thing is that we chose to tackle the challenge in the first place.
There are many misconceptions about change and views on how to “live the perfect life”, but it is important to remember that everyone has a different definition of “perfect”, and your life will never check all the metaphorical boxes. This is why it is so important to have your own morals and values, and be comfortable with who you are as a person – both strengths and weaknesses. If there are things you want to change about yourself or your life, do it! Just make sure you’re doing it in order to become more comfortable with yourself, and not because you think it’s what you “should” do. In Nabila’s words, “after all, in everything you experience, the common denominator is you.”
With that being said, I hope you take all this with a grain of salt. Understand where you are mentally and physically, and don’t push yourself to take on and welcome change if you think it will be detrimental. To finish off, I’d like to include one last piece of advice from Nabila:
If you stand to lose too much, maybe you don’t do it, or choose not to do it for the moment or (you) take a more gradual approach.
Understand the tradeoffs; all decisions have tradeoffs, be comfortable with yours. Be comfortable with your decisions and once you make them, move forward without hesitation.
