Inspiration of the Week: On Change

"To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did." - Unknown

"I need to get outta Chicago" I said to myself as I sat in my room on July 4th. I hopped in my car - drove 3hrs west - and surprised some old friend in Iowa. I had spent my 4th of July every with the same people, doing the same thing - watching fireworks from a rooftop deck, grilling burgers and hot dogs, and pounding down a few brews. I realized every day that was passing by seemed to mirror what I had done before. I needed change.

There's a reason we often take the path MOST traveled: Seeing all the footprints on the well-trodden road creates the illusion of certainty, especially when many are your own.

It feels safe when things are familiar. You know what's at the end; you've been there before. You know how to get there, so you don't need to pay attention to your steps or the details along the way. You just put yourself on auto-pilot. And go.

We generally do the things we've always done because they require less mental effort; you know what's around you, so you don’t need to be as alert. But when we tune out the familiar details, we often end up using our mental energy to dwell on the past or worry about the future. So in the end, despite taking the path of least mental effort, we still exhaust ourselves mentally.

Quit worrying. Stop stressing. Instead - Focus your mind on taking a leap... say hi to an attractive stranger you constantly see on the train, take that cooking class you've always wanted to try, book a plane ticket to that place you've always want to go, try that new restaurant that you've passed by and always "I've been meaning to go there", or do whatever it is that you dream about... even if it's just one tiny little change?

Just for today, if you find yourself doing what you've always done, ask yourself: What would make me feel excited about today? Then do it. Notice how you feel. That uncomfortable sense of fear and endless possibility is the feeling of being alive.