“Change alone is eternal, perpetual, immortal” – Arthur Schopenhauer
It’s been almost a year since I first shared my story on The Change Blog. I was coming out at the happy end of several years of endeavouring to live a more creative life and I was excited to share my story with others. I had recently founded my own creative business as a designer after years of striving toward it as my ultimate goal and I felt I had finally arrived.
I told my story with pride in the hope that it I might inspire others to make a positive change in their life. But most importantly I told my story like it was done. I had arrived at my destination. I had changed.
What I’ve realised in the last year though is that my story of living a creative life in tune with my passions hadn’t ended there. I had not reached my destination, in fact my journey was still at its very beginning.
A year ago I was a budding fashion designer and had just started to dabble in writing. At that point when I shared my story here I thought I had it all figured out. I thought I had a story to tell about someone who had made a big change and arrived at their ultimate destination but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
In the last year my business has changed, my writing has grown beyond all belief and I’ve started a masters degree in an area I love. A year ago I felt I had arrived at my destination but little did I know I was just getting started.
This past year has seen my creative business as a fashion designer change dramatically. My products have changed, my focus has changed and most importantly I have changed. My aspiration to be a fashion designer that I worked hard toward for years has morphed into something different.
I now see my ultimate journey as not just to be a designer but to live an interesting and creative life in whole, whatever form that takes. With this new focus I’ve spent more time than ever writing and it has ultimately surfaced as a major part of my life. I’ve also found a new interest in sustainability and am now studying a master’s degree in this area.
I don’t know where all of these things will ultimately lead but I can confidently say I am happy to take the journey.
I think there is the tendency to believe when we are striving toward something that when we reach our goal it will be the ultimate experience and life for us. It’s certainly how I felt when I was working my old 9-5 full time office job. Every day I’d dream of a better more creative life, one where I would spend every day designing in my studio and be happier than ever.
Fast forward a few years later and I am happier than ever, but the things that have surfaced in my life are things I never could have predicted. I am being called in new directions and fashion design is no longer the be all and end all that I once thought it was. My journey is now about living a creative and whole life, whatever form that takes.
What I’ve learnt in the last year is that change isn’t the striving toward a one-time event I once saw it as. It’s a continual process where we are always changing.
Every step I have taken, and every interest I have pursued, has lead me onto the next. Our lives are twisting, turning and hard to predict. The truth is things change, sometimes rapidly and sometimes slowly, but we are never still. We are all changing every single day and that is the most amazing thing. My life today is richer in ways I could not have imagined a year ago and in one years time I know it will be even richer in ways I cannot imagine now.
When we let change into our lives what we are really doing is saying yes to become the people we are meant to be. There is no final destination but rather a winding path with many wonderful changes along the way.
So today as I share my story of change once again, I want to leave you with this. Change is not permanent. Change is not ultimate. Change is forever morphing, twisting and turning, but that is all part of the beautiful journey of your life. So embrace change, even when it feels like it has veered of course, because every change is part of your unique journey to be the person you truly are.
Have you experienced the twists and turns of change in your life? Did you feel you had arrived at your destination only to find you were just getting started? Join in the conversation by sharing your experiences in the comments below.
Photo by Jo Munday
Michaela, what a beautiful, beautiful post. It almost brought tears right to my eyes. It’s soooo true what you’re saying. We set out for “change” and we have this idea in our heads of what that change looks like, but in the end the are many changes, and the ultimate change you thought you were going to experience “morphs” into something else… and along the way you meet amazing, inspiring people and stop by here and there and the result it that the big picture is different than what you thought. It really is the truth about change. You never know what will really matter to you as you continue to grow. Good for you in realizing this- all your endeavors seem amazing, and whichever ones you continue to pursue, I know you are doing them with ALL YOUR HEART. :)
Thank you for your kind words Jesicka and for taking the time to read my story :) You are so right, what we think we are changing into often morphs into something completely different and it is all really about the amazing experiences we have along the way.
I completely agree. I had thought that once I reached a certain career goal that I’d be happy with everything and not need to progress any further. Instead I’ve found that you can’t escape change. I can’t complain though. I’ve started down new paths that I had given up on a long time ago. I am finding fulfillment in areas that I never expected. Keep going with the changes, it’s about the journey not the destination! I see that now.
Wonderful Carissa, that’s fantastic to hear that you’ve started down new paths by being open to change. You’re right it is all about the journey. If you are enjoying the journey the destination becomes simply a great bonus not the only thing.
Michaela:
Thank you for your story. I like your candor about our need to be ready to change as our circumstances require us to change. I think the key is your positive attitude about change.
People will often complain about their dull routine (until you ask them to break that routine). You have embraced the changes in your life. Making these changes enabled you to see that you could do even more to live a better life for yourself.
Now you are living an adventure rather than merely avoiding risk. I salute you and look forward to reading the continued story of your new adventures.
Yes I think a positive attitude is key. You need to be open to opportunities and the potential for change to reap the benefits. And you are right, it was by being open to each new change that I began to see how things could be even better. It is a continual process.
Thank you for your kind words and I’m glad to hear you enjoyed reading my story :)
Your post reminded me that the only thing constant in this life is change. We’re always changing, whether it’s moving forwards or backwards. I TRY to have the courage to continue to grow, but new twist and turns in the adventure can be scary.Thanks for sharing your story, Michaela.
That’s right Marcy, change is the only certainty!
It can be scary, but remember it can also be really exciting! There’s so many amazing things out there for you, they’re there for the taking but only if you put your hand up and say yes! Best of luck and remember you have all the courage you need, so no more trying – it’s time for doing :) You can do it!
Sorry for the slow response, Michaela. We took our kids to Cancun last week for Spring Break. Thanks for responding and the vote of confidence on courage. Best~
Lovely post, my favorite of the day. Although we may set out to climb a mountain in the distance, our travels will lead us to where we are needed (and where we need to be) and we may never make it to that mountain – and that’s just perfect.
Blessings, Michaela! Keep up the good vibes, my friend. :)
Thanks Matt! Glad to hear you enjoyed the post and good to see you here :)
What a lovely metaphor that is, thank you for sharing with us.
Michaela. How do you know when changing is right? Taking risks is not easy. How do you know it’s the right turn?
We all know people who are changing, but changing in wrong directions. So how to know the best directions for change? It’s helpful to know, I think, what cosmologists are discovering about the universe: it’s emerging. And we are part of the universe, emergent beings whose very essence is becoming our full magical selves. If we don’t know where to begin our emergence, we need only look at our weaknesses and begin the process of gaining a sustained poise, a state of consciousness in which we are present, connected, grateful, creative and light-hearted. As we eliminate our weaknesses one by one, we become light enough to fly free.
Beautiful words Gary. I love the way you liken the emergence of the universe to our own selves, that is a very interesting way to look at it. Thanks for sharing your insight here.
A great story and so true for all of us. Change never stops changing. Life is about growth and that inevitably means change along the way. Nothing stands still, everything is always changing, the natural state of the world is all about change, we only have to look at nature to see all the changes that happen.
I love change and embrace it whole heartedly, life would get boring otherwise.
A beautiful story Michaela, keep changing and keep growing :)
So true Robert, life is all about growth and change is inevitable. Wonderful point about the natural state of the world being about change – I think that is something we humans often forget as we try to control every facet of our own lives and the world around us.
Glad you enjoyed this post, thank you for sharing your thoughts :)
Embracing change is a critical component of thriving in this day and age. The pace of change is only accelerating. I remember thinking I had “arrived” at various stages in my life–college, my first job, my law degree, etc.–only to learn that I hadn’t. That made me realize that it’s the journey and the process that’s important. I’m not sure you ever really “arrive” anywhere, and if you have, you might just be stagnating. I like that you say there may be no final destination, just a winding path.
Yes, every time we think we have arrived we haven’t really. We have simply reached another point within a long journey. You’re right, it is all about the process – we must enjoy it for what it is and realise there is value in new experiences that come our way even if they are not what we expected.
It’s funny…change used to really be an all or nothing proposition. If you were working a job, there wasn’t much time to dangle your feet in something else. Now, with so much information all around us and so many opportunities that didn’t exist before, there are so many more possibilities. Of course that means there’s also the potential for “Shiny Object Syndrome,” where we never really commit to anything. But it’s nice to know we have the choices.
Glad you’re doing some great stuff, Michaela! Please check back and let us know how things are going. :)
I definitely agree, we have so many opportunities at our fingertips these days and there is the potential for ‘Shiny Object Syndrome’ but I think there’s also the potential to try a variety of different things and see what fits.
Great to hear you enjoyed the post Larry, I’ll definitely check back in again in the future to share my evolving story of change :)
Micheala,
Loved the story. I recall a very famous quote “Change is the only constant”
Great quote! Glad to hear you enjoyed this post Naveen :)
Its so true. I never felt I will feel so confident about my new career. I was pursing a degree in Mechanical Engineering after 3 years of studies, I realised that it was not my passion I was not happy with what I was doing. Last year, I changed my career path to Bachelor of Accounting and Finance, doing my 2nd year now. I thought I should bring up this, there might be someone out there struggling to get along with their careers. CHANGE if you don’t like something, CHANGE and be happy for the rest of your life
Great advice Ree! Thank you for sharing your story here and I believe it will inspire others to make the change if they are not happy doing what they are doing! I too changed my original career path even prior to this. I studied a business degree and then decided I wanted to have a more creative career and studied design. Doing something that makes you happy is essential, good on you for going after what you’re passionate about!
Absolutely! Change is far from a linear process. I was sharing my career switch story and tips for up and coming entrepreneurs on a community radio earlier today. What I’m doing now is definitely not something I expected – it’s better. I believe life, business and travel is about expecting the unexpected, and being ok with riding the ups and downs, and twists and turns.
Congratulations on your year of change.
Great to hear Kristy! I think often we are scared to change, but you’re right – what comes out is often better than what was there before. Good on you for sharing your career switch story and inspiring others! That’s fantastic!
This is such an on target message for me right now. I have thought that I’ve ‘arrived’ so many times, only to learn that another chapter of my life was just beginning to unfold. In the past few years I have reached what I thought was my end-goal several times. First it was having a good corporate job. Then it was working in an exciting startup environment. Then it was co-founding a business. Then it was selling that business. Then it was re-defining what I wanted to do next. Then it was back to a startup job that allowed me great flexibility and the ability to save a lot of money. You get the picture. Now I’m in an entirely new chapter once again, learning to spread my wings and fly as a Startup Coach, mentor, writer, and podcast show host. And life has never been more exciting and full of joy! Thanks for this inspiring article. It gives me even more validation that my morphing, twisting path is right on track.
It sounds like you can relate exactly Michael! It’s funny how we think we have arrived at our big destination after striving toward it for so long only to find something new pops up for us.
It’s great hearing that you’ve been through all these changes too and are happily at your next stage. Glad you enjoyed this!
I feel as though my life has been running along a similar course as yours has in these past few years as far as my ideas about change go, though the details are of course very different.
I remember a time, not too long ago, where I dreamed of a life where I would be settled into “happy”. The life I have now is nowhere near what I had imagined for myself and is certainly nowhere near its completed evolution, it IS however as you say – much richer than I had ever imagined it could be. All I had to do (it wasn’t always easy but it really was that simple) was open myself up to the idea that change was on going and it always will be. I had to make peace with, and then get excited about, the idea that I will always be changing, desiring and flowing. I will never get it all done, which is fine because done would be boring.
The things I am doing now that make me feel the best I would have never imagined for myself. I don’t want to rush anything but I am excited to see what things, that I can’t now imagine, will unfold.
I wish you all the best and look forward to reading more in time :)
What a lovely piece. I am moved by your clear journey towards wholeness and having a curious, passionate and exciting outlook on the journey itself. Change is beautiful because it creates a woven tapestry of experience out of common threads.
Life isn’t really about setting hard and fast goals and then ticking them off. We don’t control everything and sometimes we have to adapt and change with opportunities and circumstances. Personally, I’m aiming to be more creative (writing, photograph). The opportunities are not just when travelling but during the everyday – observations from work, timeout at lunchtime. Let’s see where this goes.
Michaela thank you for your insight. Life is one grand adventure that twists and changes in the most delightful way, well most of the time. You are right it is the journey not the destination that counts. I am 59 years old and my life has been a glorious adventure with several career changes, frequent moves around the globe, near misses in civil war and invasions, the lose of personal possessions and so much more. At this moment, I am being guided in a whole new area of on-line blogging, a steep learning curve but, an adventure. So, I think I can say “Have fun on the journey and just be surprised at where it leads.” My site will be launched soon!
I love this post – I’m such a big believer that tiny changes can lead to much bigger things. Often it’s not till you actually get out there and dip your toe in the water that magical things start to happen. There’s no way that even 2 years ago I could have predicted where I’d be now – there have certainly be twists and turns and am grateful for every one of them :-)
Embracing change can be a very hard thing to do. It’s clear that you are very good at it Michaela. I’ve personally changed in huge ways that probably saved my life and certainly saved my sanity. I couldn’t have done it without God’s help. I’m curious if He has a place in your life or if you looked to Him for help you grow the way you have.
“Life is its own journey, presupposes its own change and movement, and one tries to arrest them at one’s eternal peril.” ~Laurens van der Post