Last updated on September 15th, 2022 at 03:37 pm
Moving on is really about investing in yourself and deciding on a fresh start.
This week was like watching a repeat of a movie. The same life-changing incident happened to three people in my life.
I witnessed first-hand these three dear friends moving through their lives in synchronicity to pursue their true purpose. They all have one thing in common; they are breaking away from the safety of their current lives to take on the unknown. Two are moving out of South Africa and one is moving out of her parent’s home to another city.
Listening to each of their stories made me realize that even though to the outside world their actions might appear selfish–and maybe even obdurate towards their traditional families–in actuality, they are brave, bold, and courageous.
Moving on from what is comfortable is not easy.
Especially if that comfortable “something” is a job, family, or a relationship. The amount of courage it takes to change your life can feel overwhelming. It’s why it can be distressing to transition to something new.
And what if a change is thrown upon you? How do you adapt when life is forces you to change?
Many of us were programmed by well-meaning parents, teachers, siblings, and adults to think that we shouldn’t do things that are outside of an established norm because we can get hurt, be an embarrassment, or fail in a way we never fully recover from. It’s better to play it safe and go for certainty. Stability is drummed into our heads, especially if you are from an immigrant family or a family that has made a lot of sacrifices.
But certainty can feel like a prison when you aren’t doing what you feel called to become. When you feel like you are living a life based on certainty, that perceived stability can become its own type of prison. You can suddenly wake up one day feeling deeply dissatisfied, wondering what you are doing with your life.
When you choose to move on from feeling trapped by certainty, you are not being selfish. You are simply making a choice to pursue what you know in your heart you deserve.
This is what I did when I left a secure job to follow my dream to become an inspirational speaker. I must admit, it feels great to follow my dream and that I was brave enough to risk change and all that comes with it.
I too have felt challenged when it is difficult to walk away from something, even though I was suffering and knew it was the right move for me.
The bottom line is that if it does not resonate well with your spirit, it will eventually be deleterious to your life’s journey of becoming who you were meant to be here on earth.
Moving on can bring with it some sadness too. I am saddened that I will not be seeing my three friends for a few months, or possibly years. But I am also proud that they are putting themselves first by going after their dreams and risking change. I am excited to see who they become.
Moving on isn’t a bad thing.
Deciding to stay unhappy is.
Sue Faith Levy
Sue Levy is the founder of the South African Just Pursue It Blog and Inspirational Women Initiative. She’s a motivational writer and media designer, who is obsessed with everything inspirational with a hint of geek. She thrives on teaching women how to be brave and take big chances on themselves. You can find Sue on her Twitter page @Sue_Levy.
Note: Articles by Sue may contain affiliate links and may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on an affiliate link.