Step 28: Move When Prompted
“Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.”
At some point you will be in a position for far too long. Whether it's a job, a relationship or a body size, it's possible to be in a rut. When you get there, you're the equivalent to a stale potato chip. There was goodness there before and some people may still eat you. But you know you're no longer in your chip heyday.
So how can you know when you're in a rut? Here's a quick checklist:
Everyday is a blur.
You have run out of fucks.
You have become the green eyed monster.
Fantasies take over your mind.
You're afraid to change anything.
(Note: for a more exhaustive list, check out Lifehack or Psychology Today.)
If you've checked more than 2 items on that list, you are in need of a change. I'm not going to lie and tell you have easy it is to change a pattern. Science has told us how much work goes into creating them. Imagine how much more work goes into breaking them! It can mean putting down the cookies, looking for a new job or moving to a new house. It can be HELL.
Or you could avoid change by staying in your perceptual cycle of "meh", "I hate this" and "why is he/she so happy?"
The lesson for today is to leave when it's time. Make a move. Shake the spot. Just go. If you don't, time will slip away from you and you'll look up one day and wonder what happened.
