Embracing Change: The Key to Thriving as You Grow Older

Embracing Growth and Change as We Journey Through Life

I’m a much different man at 36 years old than when I first started writing in 2011 at 24, and I love that aspect of myself. Over these past 12 years of sharing my journey online, I’ve found a way to appreciate and embrace my life more than I had before, and that “self-love” for lack of a more appropriate term, continues to grow even as I go through phases of change taking place at the very core of my identity.

The lesson here is that you must “shed your skin” regularly as you age, requiring you to change groups, switch hobbies, and let go of an identity that once served a purpose.

Change is one of the most difficult things that we face, but change is inevitable.
One reason we don't like change is we get comfortable where we are
We get used to our friends, our jobs, the place we live, and even if it's not perfect, we accept it because it's familiar
What happens is because we're not willing to change, we get stuck in what God used to do instead of moving forward into what God is about to do
Just because God's blessed you where you are doesn't mean you can sit back and settle there
You have to stay open to what God is doing now
What worked five years ago may not work today
If you're going to be successful, you have to be willing to change
Every blessing is not supposed to be permanent
Every provision is not supposed to last forever
We should constantly evaluate our friendships
Who's speaking into your life?
Who are you depending on?
Make sure they're not dragging you down, limiting you from blossoming
Everybody is not supposed to be in our life forever
If you don't get rid of the wrong friends, you will never meet the right friends

Ill Mind of Hopsin 8

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Changes & Transitions

While growing older is an inevitable part of life, choosing to change with new understandings, maturity, and awareness is a choice.

Have you ever met an older individual attempting to “stay hip”, and associate themselves with a younger crowd?

Don’t pity them (or do; I’m not here to tell you what to do, I’m here to share my insights) instead, recognize that this is the product of society’s message that growing older is bad, the loss of youth is a tragedy, and perpetual adolescence is possible.

You must embrace and navigate the changes that come with aging, with intention and clear direction. Doing so will have a significant impact on your personal growth, and the overall satisfaction you experience as you transition through the phases of life. As you age with grace, you’ll find that there is an internal conflict generating between the old you, and the new; you must remain aware of this, as your mindset will be able to settle the duality of “you” with greater ease so long as you know why you are at odds with yourself.

Photo by benjamin lehman on Unsplash

The Path to Sustained Self-Discovery

As we progress through different stages of life, change becomes a constant companion. It's natural to experience a mix of emotions such as excitement, uncertainty, and reflection as we navigate the shifting landscape of aging. However, viewing change as an opportunity for self-discovery and personal growth allows us to unlock new levels of fulfillment and navigate this phase with grace. Here is where I see many struggle as their new selves want to shed the skin of old, but the old skin is familiar, and while it may limit growth, hanging on to what one knows will offer years of satisfaction before creating any real conflict.

The 45-year-old trying to hang with the young twenties was likely ready to move on from that scene when she was 26, 28, and 32 but it wasn’t until she was 35+ that it was clear, she was clinging to a time that had passed her by. She squeezed more years out of that life without anyone recognizing it for what it was until there was no avoiding it.

Don’t prolong the transition to maturity, grow as soon as it’s time to grow.

A part of my growth has been the pursuit of photography, and stepping back from other social media outlets. You can follow me on Instagram if you’re interested in the art, or you just want to see the photos I’m putting out to the world:

Embracing change fosters a mindset of continuous learning and self-improvement; you become comfortable detaching from “things”, and place a great weight on the relationships you maintain and time in each day.

People, hobbies, habits, and routines are all fair game to be removed as you grow, for they may have served their purpose, and continuing to put time and energy into them is like having an application continue to run in the background, even when not in use; it does nothing but drain the battery.

By stepping outside our comfort zones, pursuing new experiences, and embracing growth, we expand our horizons, acquire new skills, and deepen our knowledge. This not only enhances personal development but also enriches our lives in countless ways, allowing us to lead a more vibrant and fulfilling existence.

How can you do that when you refuse to let anything go?

You’re treating your life like that box of cords sitting in the garage, doing nothing but taking up space for years, never to be used. Except, in this example, it’s opportunities in your life and ability to grow that will be lost because of the waste of space things you keep around.

Now that we recognize the significance of embracing change, let's explore some practical tips for navigating this transformative phase with wisdom and confidence: