We have a choice

 

Hello Fe-liners. How are you on this fine morning? Any news? I have some news myself… I am changing jobs.

I appreciate people change jobs everyday and it’s no biggie, but I’m finding it ironic that 2013 was set to be my year of change, whilst 2014 is my year of choice – yet there’s still a fair bit of change happening. This means I am choosing change and that, I tell you, is a great feeling.

Change is a big thing for a lot of people, myself included. That said, I did move countries by myself without knowing a soul in my new destination (like millions of others); I also moved from Bristol to Oxford only 18 months later and had to start all over again. So… I can do change! Oh yeah!

So what is it that made those changes more bearable? They were changes I chose to pursue. No matter how hard it was to leave my family and friends (several times!), I chose that change. After a lot of tears and a rough few days, I settled into happiness in my new life and made the most of each adventure. As a nostalgic creature, I miss what was, while thoroughly enjoying what is.

That is part of the reason I chose choose as my word for 2014 – because it’s an empowering word that makes me feel like I can move mountains and reach for the stars. Because I can, even if it’s all inside me! And so can you.

The other reason was that I believe life is made of choices; we may not like the options at our disposal, but (more often than not) we can choose one. As Epictetus put it, “we cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them”. Wise man, very wise.

For me, changing jobs became about choosing to change jobs. And that made all the difference in dealing with the hard bits – leaving friends and colleagues I love, coping with that cold belly feeling of starting something new, wondering about my new colleagues… Leaving me free to enjoy the good bits – I wanted this change and the new job; I chose this and I will be fine.

Why am I sharing this? Two reasons. Firstly, I wanted to share something personal and open up to this community that shares so much; something important to me that showed my fears but also how I overcome them. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, I wanted to share how being reminded I have a choice makes me happier.

We make choices everyday, from when to get out of bed after the alarm goes off (about 15 minutes for me!), to how long we take in the shower, or what we have for breakfast; all of this before we even leave the house. Ultimately, all of these choices – together with bigger ones – shape our life and who we are. Having choice as my word for 2014 is constantly reminding me that I, too, have a choice and that makes me ever so happy. I guess I really embrace (and need) that feeling of empowerment that comes with having a choice. And I hope you do too

Love and choices,