Humans have a natural tendency to be habitual beings.

Making a big life change is scary. We prefer living life, relaxed and safe, in our intimate settings. But then, we know that life doesn’t behave this way. Life has its ups and downs. And things change quickly: we move, grow, and adapt.

A loved one’s death, divorce, or loss of employment are just a few examples of how life changes may knock us off our feet. However, positive changes such as getting married or beginning a new career may also be nerve-wracking.

We all want to know how events will play out and if everything will be well at the finish line. Why? Because of how we are, change may be unsettling and intimidating. Yet, we cannot resist change, hide from it, and most definitely cannot run from it, despite the efforts of some of us.

Making a big life change head-on with conviction, gratitude, and hope is the best course of action. We only see change as frightening when we allow our thoughts to do so. But the moment we decide to embrace change, we lay ourselves up to life’s virtually endless opportunities.

A Wake-Up Call for the Brain

In our early childhood, we were taught that the only constant thing in this world is change.

As we age, the brain creates neural connections for our acquired knowledge and skills. Our brains can digest the familiar easily because of these “mental shortcuts.”

Any significant change is perceived as a danger to our evolution since it is uncharted territory. And because of our inability to determine whether the change is beneficial, we may be biased against it.

Change is scary. It puts us on our edge, which results in tension and anxiety unless you’re the unique person who routinely welcomes the uncertainty of a new adventure.

The Effects of Making Major Life Changes

Making a big life change greatly influences the flow of our lives.

How do we manage significant life changes, though? When we explore unfamiliar seas, they effectively cause us to rebuild from scratch and shake the basis of who we are.

It’s common to experience life’s weariness and disregard the necessity of caring for oneself, people close to us, and one’s commitments. But negotiating and adapting to a new environment constantly until it is comfortable for us is the point of existence.

To understand how we can adjust to major changes in our lives, we must first understand the effect such changes have on us. Here are some of the most common ones:

1. Distancing from Relationships

When going through a huge life transformation, people commonly distance themselves from relationships. Priorities shift with distance and a lack of quality time, and relationships deteriorate. Furthermore, people’s achievements following constructive changes can draw to the surface dormant negativity or result in a conflict of interest amongst friends.

2. Feeling Hopeless

Without a personal vision board, change can leave you feeling overwhelmed and depressed, and disheartening you. This feeling of hopelessness is because big life changes often result in failures and frustrations. Reality often hits you hard, especially if you don’t have family, friends, or even financial stability to help ease the blow.

3. Physical and Mental Stress

Studies show that you inevitably become more physically and mentally exhausted whenever crucial changes break in your life. This stress arises because making adjustments uses more energy than you can afford.

It’s possible to reach a time when your workload is so heavy that you can no longer focus or do things for leisure. This stress can also lead to a sign of mental reluctance to spend time on things like hobbies since sleep is so limited.

Things to Consider Before Making a Major Life Change

If you are eager to make a significant change but are unsure whether you can quit a bad habit for real this time or fulfill a goal, I have good news!

Most of us find it difficult to incorporate the new activity into our routines since it might be intimidating to consider adding another task to our already busy schedules. However, it is far less intimidating to think about your objective as a series of small adjustments you can easily add to your regular routine.

We are aware that this is easier said than done. And to support you in your journey, we have curated a list of things to consider when you are about to make scary, life-changing events.

1. Pose some real inquiries to yourself.

Whenever you feel like your life is going nowhere, try asking yourself these questions:

• What am I looking for?
• Why do I want this situation to change?
• Do my heart and mind agree that a change needs to happen?
• Who pushed me to think about this goal?
• If I don’t do anything, how would I feel after six months?
• How am I going to put my efforts into this new project?

Making a lasting change requires a clear understanding of when to give up. There is a higher likelihood that you won’t accept or be stuck with change if you only make it because your friend is also creating new beginnings rather than because you truly believe in it.

2. Think about your needs and wants.

Anything you invest time, space, and money in will probably make you feel good, which may also motivate you to make changes. You’ll get accustomed to the same things that others enjoy if you create new routines based on people’s preferences.

A meaningful shift, however, necessitates paying close attention to your inner voice. So the answer to the question “Why am I doing all this?” that comes to mind when you’re considering making a change in your life should be centered on something you feel is important and meaningful.

3. Establish your purpose.

Your actions are motivated by your purpose, which links you to the reasons you desire to change something or transform something in the first place.

At every step, your established purpose may offer you a sense of meaning. Before a goal is accomplished or a change is realized, many stages are usually taken. It might help to give your mission a new course in life if you keep telling yourself about your purpose.

Remind yourself why you’re trying to accept a new life when things get difficult. You will only feel a sense of fulfillment when your purpose is served.

4. Be honest with yourself.

If you’re confronting a big life change, spending time being honest can help a lot. Being honest with yourself about your thoughts and feelings falls under this category. For example, it might be detrimental in the long run to ignore one thing you don’t like, even if you think you’ll be okay with it.

And make sure you’re entirely honest, say, if you’re asking for assistance in accomplishing a goal. Being secretive might hurt your outcomes since someone outside the situation can rest their recommendations on what you’re saying. Lying can only help maintain bad habits while also fueling your negative thoughts from the world of your past.

5. Find a new perspective.

Making a major change happen involves finding a new perspective.

Our relationships with ourselves have a role in some of our inner frustrations. So the perspective you have with yourself might be among the most meaningful. We don’t even need to move to talk ourselves into and out of a dilemma.

It’s normal for fear of big things to arise while exploring unfamiliar territory, but the stress shouldn’t be the core of your perspective. Simply put, make an effort to talk positively to yourself when you write a new chapter in your lifetime.

Last Word

Change is scary but necessary. Making a big life change is scary. It takes a lot of courage and confidence to wake up, learn new things, and experiment with different approaches. But keep in mind that everything is a process. And the things that make us feel strong emotions usually figure out what must be changed.