Thursday, August 12, 2010

Changes

“Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go.” Herman Hesse

What is it about change that's so scary? Whenever I feel a need for change.....a need to move on.....a need to let go.....I fight and struggle to hold on...afraid of the change....afraid of letting go of what I know....especially if what I know has been something good.  And even when it hasn't been......at least it's familiar. 

Lately.....I've been feeling a pull to move forward....away from the famliar.....and what's been comfortable. I don't want to give up the things where I once found security and support. But those things are beginning to hurt me more than help me. And to stay means giving up parts of who I am....and the things I need to live free.  

Letting go feels like a huge loss.... a sort of death. To let go or hold on? 
Change is never easy, you fight to hold on, and you fight to let go.” – The Wonder Years


32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Firstly, I LOVE THE WONDER YEARS. One of the best shows ever. Fred savage is very cute. And my sister actually worked with Danica McKellar on a book!

(I know that's pretty irrelevant to the post, but I got excited when you used that quote.)

If what you're holding on to is hurting you, then it may be worth it to endure the discomfort of change in order to feel better. I feel like the discomfort of change and the loss that goes along with it is pretty temporary, but the hurt that these things are causing are not going away.

Wishing you well,
NOS

Mary Nevin said...

this quote is so beautiful. thank you for sharing. this is at the core of what i struggle with in letting go with my trauma. i constantly fear that in letting it go, it's a way of saying none of it matters. thank you so much for reminding me that the strength and grace is in the healing, not in the memory. i am beyond blessed to have found your blog :)

Tessa Emily Hall said...

Great post! Changes are hard, but every change comes with a new beginning. :)

Tessa
www.christiswrite.blogspot.com

MTJ said...

Hi Sarah,

Herman Hesse is one of my all-time favorite authors.

I believe that is the challenge of life for each of us. We don't even realize it but change is both constant and dynamic. Everything is subject to change. It's not the big changes that I see coming, it's those minute changes that occur over time which I pay little attention to that add up to make significant changes in my life.

The assurance we have is that Christ is with us in those moments of change and we can be confident that we're not alone through our experiences of change.

Whatever you decide, I will be praying that our Lord guide you through it Sarah.

Blessings and peace to you.

MTJ

Merana Leigh said...

Change is scary. I think for the most part, it's living blind! You step out into the unknown, blindly groping your way along. But I've always told people (myself included!) that if you feel a conviction deep inside & you're praying for guidance, that's simply the Holy Spirit's "gentle whisper" & you should follow it...unknown as the path may be. God will light your path. Please read this post I did & hopefully you will gain something from it.
http://quietministries.blogspot.com/2010/08/we-are-such-creatures-of-habit-we-are.html

Peacefilled prayers are lifted for you, dear one! Merana

Deb said...

Letting go means relinquishing control.

It's way hard for me.

Praying for Him to give you strength and peace to make this change.

Sweet dreams.

Merana Leigh said...

just happened upon this while traveling in Blogland. Pretty relevant - http://www.reflectionsofhisgrace.com/2010/04/comfort-zones.html.

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking similar thoughts. I feel for you. I am praying and asking God to guide you and me. He will answer. Soon.

Anonymous said...

Sarah,
Great thought provoking post. I have been praying about letting go of Dr. T. So hard to do. I know God is asking me to keep walking forward. I understand the struggle. I feel it in general right now. God is calling me into some scary, uncomfortable places.

Blessings and hugs to you,
Tammy

Paula said...

Once again tools have outlived their usefullness. means as well, that you stabilized and ready to move on to the next stage of your development. What a chance, and what a choice. Whatever you have to leave behind, I am sure you will treasure it for all your life, it is part of your way, part of a mile stone, yet you have passed this milestone.
Moving onto unknown shores. The unknown is always frightening. Leaving the comfortzone before a former milestone makes us stumble again. Love to you

Foxglove said...

I have just journeyed through your inspiring blog and have enjoyed reading some of your heartfelt posts, Thank you.

This post on letting go always makes me think of cross roads and choices which have to be made which are not usually easy but necessaries in this journey of life.

Crown of Beauty said...

Dear friend
I have finished reading your three recent posts. Lovely thoughts straight from the heart.

Dream big, give yourself permission to be free, and now, getting ready for change.

It's just moving up one step at a time, and as you get more healed up, the better able you are to enter new territory.

Change is never easy. But it is the only way to grow.

I always love coming over to your place just to read your latest thoughts.

So full of hope.

Love
Lidj

Just Be Real said...

I know I certainly do not like change. But since my journey, I have seen a lot of changes in me, and quite quickly. Something I was not expecting. Dear one, thank you for sharing such a timely message. You are truly a blessings, JBR

Dulçe ♥ said...

Dear Sarah,
it is so true, although so difficult sometimes to let go, holding on only lets us stuck...
Great post
;)

Dolores Ayotte said...

Sarah,
There is always an element of "fear" when it comes to the unknown. I find it very difficult to let go of my security blanket too, but true growth comes from doing just that. Baby steps...that's my motto! I'm getting there, slow but sure, and I know you are too! :)

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

I dislike changes in general, but do adjust to it when I must or have to take it..

lovely post.

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

http://itistimetothinkformyself.blogspot.com/2010/08/55-flash-friday-55-is-written-by.html
an award for you,
Happy Weekend,
Cheers!
:)

Karen said...

Letting go is very hard sometimes...I once had to let go of someone in my life...let them sink so deep, that the only way up was to cry out to God...the letting go was the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life...but as soon as it was "done"...peace filled my heart as I knew I had done what the Lord wanted me to do...now I can look back and see how His plan was in motion all along....

Yolanda said...

You touch on something that many of us can relate to...your transparency is amazing and eloquent. I will be praying with you as you go through this change journey...one of many that we go through in our lifetimes.
Thanks for sharing!
Oh and I LOVE the intro quote!

Pet said...

Sara great post.

Mary said...

sometimes the little deaths are necessary on this journey, as is change. Growth requires both I think. Giving up the familiar is always hard, but remember who it is that calls you forward.

Blessings and hugs!!

Lily said...

Oh, The Wonder Years! I was pretty young when this was on, but remember my parents watching it and secretly thinking Kevin was pretty cute!

Change is so hard! I am currently trying to let go of my death grip on my past, and trying to embrace the change that is staring me right in the face. For me, my change starts tomorrow. Literally. And I've had a while to come to terms with that, but it doesn't make it any less scary!

Mya said...

Several years ago I took a ride by a house that I had once lived in. The house was now vacant, as were were the others houses on the street, and was scheduled to be torn down. The front door was gone so it was no trouble to go inside. As I wandered through the rooms so many memories, good and bad, came to my mind. After a few moments I rememberd more and more of the sad times. Perhaps I had never honestly dealt with those shadows before, but visiting that place allowed me to walk away feeling much better.

Deborah Ann said...

I'm not a big fan of change. It's scary! But yet, it's the changes that shape our character and make life interesting. So I dread them, but yet I must receive them as a dear old friend.

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Sarah -

Every season of our lives involves change. There is loss, but it is often replaced by new discoveries and joys.

We can only hold so much in our hands. Until we release what's in them, we cannot pick up the new treasure God has prepared for us.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Lia Storm said...

First of all, thank you for finding me and that message you left for me. I had to smile when I read this because I am struggling with letting go of something in my life right now too and your words here described that struggle right on the mark. I hope you find the strength and wisdom you need to make the right decision for you. God Bless !

Maggie May said...

The saying goes.....*A change is as good as a rest* I suppose it depends on what kind of change. A holiday is often the rest that is needed, however a change of lifestyle might be very difficult indeed.
I personally don't like lifestyle changes as I tend to cling to the familiar.Its inevitable though.
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Terri Tiffany said...

I have let go more than I have held on. Sometimes I wish I hadn't and would love to go back and reclaim the familiar. I pray your decisions work out for the best!

vonimoller said...

This was such a stunning post and wow! It just was amazing. The real learning is in letting go and letting go is the HARDEST things to do. I never understood that until now and i never understood why what happened to me in July until now.
Its just wow!! Thanks Sarah. Great words - you may not post EVERY day but boy you sure knock my socks off when you do :-D

Syd said...

Change can be scary but most of that is my projection of what might be. What reality is and what I project in a situation are two different things. I refuse to be a hostage to my fears. Good luck with your journey of change.

Amanda said...

Change, to me, means letting go of what we feel familiar with, and with that, control. Change means trusting in Him, Who never changes. Imagine that!!! He is ROCK solid! Unmoveable (from Truth)! Dependable to be a firm constant in our lives...

Change becomes an exciting adventure once we let go, and let God take the reigns. Easier said than done sometimes ;)

Simone said...

hello, I just dropped by your blog and I think change is a very hard thing to do. Sometimes we hold on to the past long after it is over. Just try to think of it as an Adventure...we all love an adventure...love your blog.

Simone