Humans don’t like change; it’s hardwired into our DNA to have an aversion to doing things a new way or changing things up in our lives. However, only one thing is constant in life: change. Accepting that means being one step closer to moving on from the old and embracing the present and future.
Most of us want to improve our lives, and we look to do so by getting new jobs, moving to a new place, making new friends, starting up a new diet, etc. Ironically, most of us want change, yet when we’re faced with it, we resist it all the same. Humans are pretty a peculiar species, that’s for sure.
However, if you’re seeking a change in your life, you first must let go of the past in order to usher in the future. In this article, we’ll give you some surefire signs that you’re ready for a change in your life.
9 Signs You Should Let Go of Your Old Life
“The truth is, unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over, you cannot move forward.” – Steve Maraboli
1. You feel dead inside all the time.
Of course, life can’t always feel like a day at Disneyland, but it shouldn’t feel the opposite all the time, either. If you don’t like your life, you can always start anew and take a different path. No one is forcing you to live your current life, but understandably, it can be hard to break out of the routine of doing things one way for so long. Remember that only you can make yourself happy, so don’t give up on pursuing joy. Your life is worth living to the fullest, whatever that might mean to you.
Don’t let society’s oppressive nature control how YOU live your life; freedom is in the mind.
2. You isolate yourself from others.
Even the most introverted among us need social interaction in life; we are social creatures, even if we don’t always feel like socializing. If you constantly isolate yourself from people, you’re probably avoiding something within yourself. If you felt happy and at peace with your life, you would likely feel more like connecting with others and sharing similar experiences with them. Isolating yourself might feel easier, but it will definitely hinder your opportunities in life and make you depressed due to lack of interaction and stimulation from others.
3. You feel exhausted.
We can feel exhaustion in a few ways: mentally, emotionally, or physically. Usually, it’s a combination of the three and is a major sign that something is up in your life, both literally and figuratively. When you feel exhausted, it’s time to give something up that is causing you fatigue. You have to analyze your life and figure out how you’re using your energy and where you could cut out things so you feel more vital. No one deserves to feel like they want to lay in bed all the time, so if this describes you, don’t just allow yourself to remain complacent.
Try lifestyle changes, such as eating healthier, exercising, and meditating, and creating a life that works for your energy levels.
4. You’re not having fun.
Contrary to popular belief, life shouldn’t stop being fun when you graduate high school or college. Sure, we all have to make money, which can lead to feelings of hopelessness and depression, but you should have a little bit of fun doing it at least! If you don’t like your job, don’t waste your or your boss’ time any longer. If your job feels draining and unfulfilling, you are allowed to walk out and look for something better. You’re allowed to live a life of fulfillment and enjoy your time here on Earth. Don’t allow any person, negative voice in your head, or long-standing belief to convince you otherwise.
5. You feel like you’re faking it.
Of course, it’s very hard to feel real in our fake world now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still aim for authenticity in everything you do. If you in any way feel like the life you live or the person you are is not in alignment with your beliefs and values, then you have an obligation to yourself to figure out how to fix it. This isn’t to say it’s an easy process, but once you recognize that you feel disconnected from yourself, you can begin to take steps to create a life you love and a person you love being.
6. Your relationships don’t make you happy when you are stuck in an old love.
Whether that’s a romantic or platonic relationship, no type of bond should drain you of joy. If you feel more sadness than happiness in your relationships, it’s probably time to cut ties and move on rather than let others continue to suck you dry.
7. You’re bored with life.
Everyone gets bored in their daily routines sometimes. But if you often find yourself uninterested in life, you must ask yourself why and figure out what you can do differently. Life shouldn’t feel mundane and miserable all of the time. We should enjoy what we’re doing and feel fulfilled by following a passion. This might mean taking a new class after you get off work or meeting new friends. You don’t have to completely change your life to create happiness within your existing one.
8. You find yourself resorting to drugs or alcohol to “escape.”
It can be difficult to break an addiction, but putting harmful substances in our bodies daily will do much more harm than good. After you come down from the high or the buzz, you’ll still have to deal with all the problems you were trying to escape from in the first place. There’s nothing wrong with an occasional drink to relax a little, but if you can’t seem to put the bottle down, you should seek help from an addiction counselor or a rehabilitation center.
You deserve to live the best life possible, and you can’t do that with the disease of addiction clouding your brain.
9. You’re neglecting health concerns when you cling to an old life
Whether you’re too busy or have become too complacent to care, not prioritizing your health will lead to problems. Our health is essential in life because we cannot survive in a sick and disease-ridden body and mind. If you find that your health has fallen by the wayside, it’s time to make changes in your life so that you can feel alive and well again.
Any time we feel depressed and like we’re just “getting by” in life, it’s time to do some self-reflection and figure out how to change things to make ourselves happy again. For change to happen, we must leave our past behind, as hard as that may seem. However, we can’t open a new page in our story if we keep rereading the old ones.
Here’s to a happy, fulfilling life for us all!
