Overcoming Fear of Change

 "Fear breeds smallness. It knocks out the chance for (calculated) risks. It robs us of our purpose and our potential."

Transition. 

That’s the word that keeps coming to my mind today. Maybe it’s the season changing and spring bringing forth new life, but I feel a sense of renewed hope, change, and a push to grow.
​

I have known since last summer that I would be moving offices this year. I had long outgrown the space I was in, and I knew that, but it is easier to stay in the comfort of what we know, even if it’s uncomfortable itself. So when the building owner let us know that he would be selling and we needed to plan to vacate, I found myself making plans for a change that I didn’t necessarily choose. 


I never found myself nervous, but did find myself wondering what the potential was with this new opportunity. 


Change is good- but yes, it’s also hard. 

How do you approach it?

There was a time in my life where this would have just caused me stress. Where would I go? What would it cost me? Would I have trouble getting anyone to understand? Would I lose clients because of it?

Change was always dominated by fear- of loss, of scarcity, or of failure. When people ask me why go to therapy? Why do the work? THIS is a good example of why.

Had I not done my own work and faced some of my fears, I would not have been able to do what I have done. Fear breeds smallness. It knocks out the chance for (calculated) risks. It robs us of our purpose and our potential. I probably would have seen this as a nightmare rather than an opportunity. 

If I had let those fears drive me, I would have made very different decisions. I would have gone for the easiest, cheapest, and least stressful solution. That would have been signing another lease in a building close by, renting one room focused solely on the budget, giving little consideration to who I would be working next to, and, worst of all, I would have compromised on a lot of dreams I have for my practice. 

Instead- I did the harder thing. I picked the location I actually WANT to be in, even though it’s a bit of a longer commute. I went with an entire suite so that eventually I can have people join me in the office who I can hand pick (to avoid bad officemates, because I’ve been there before!). I was able to put a lot of love and thought into the space that I got to design myself, instead of just accepting what was already established by someone else.

And it feels good. Now I walk into my office every day with a new sense of ownership of the direction of my practice, gratitude for the blessings God continues to pour out on me, and excitement for what changes are next. I promise you, two years ago I would not have been able to make these moves because of my fears. How do I measure my growth? Today, I’m doing it by just looking around in amazement.

In hindsight, I still see room for growth. We’re never done growing. I knew I needed to make a change but I was complacent and I waited for someone else to make the decision for me. How long would I have stayed there if the building hadn’t sold? Now I’m exploring what other areas of my life I am aware that I could be doing more, but I’m content with being small where I am. 

Here’s to seeing change as an opportunity to be ventured rather than a nightmare to be suffered through.