New Beginnings

Most of us are experiencing some kind of ‘new’ at the moment, be that a new working environment, a new way of living, or a new job entirely.

‘New’ is somewhat synonymous with ‘change’. In order for something to be new, it must be an addition or an alteration of what we currently know.

A lot of us fear change, or more-so the unknown.

How do you view change?

I try to view change as new opportunity, although it’s easier said than done, especially if said change was not something that you chose for yourself.

Change can be scary, but that’s not a bad thing. It is when we feel most uncomfortable that we are growing. If you never did anything that scared you, you’d never achieve much. We need to push ourselves in order to thrive.

My current job was technically my first ‘proper’ job (full-time) and I really settled down there. I learnt more about myself and what I’m capable of than I could have ever imagined. I made friends and developed a routine. Although the position was an internship, I had been offered a permanent role upon completion, which I was thrilled with. However, this job was never meant to be a long-term role for me. I applied intending to work throughout my last semester of university and bridge the gap between graduating and finding my next role. That’s what internships are for: learning and gaining experience that can launch you further into your career goals.

But, I got comfortable.

Comfortable isn’t a bad thing at all. In fact, I felt very lucky to have had something to settle into. However, I didn’t want to be in that state in my first job. I wanted to be constantly pushing myself and making the most of this time to learn and grow.

It took some dramatic events for me to realise that I had settled and that I was letting myself down by doing so. That sounds like I’m being a bit hard on myself, but I don’t have any regrets. You learn from everything in life. Nonetheless, I’m glad that I had the courage to push myself again after a period of coasting.

I start a new job on Monday and, whilst I’m incredibly excited, I’m nervous too. Hopefully, this job is going to push me a lot and teach me a great deal. It’s probably going to be difficult, hence the nerves, but that’s also exactly what I’ve been searching for. Something to get my teeth stuck in to.

What kind of change are you experiencing at the moment? In spite of fear or nerves, are you looking at the opportunity that it’s presenting you?