Every now and again, we all feel trapped. It’s common to feel as though you are trapped in your life. Sometimes, I feel trapped in my work, hemmed about by all that I need to do, and unable to enjoy myself. Other times I feel trapped by my day-to-day routine as a mom. I love my son, but sometimes it feels a little confining to know that I need to be here when my son gets home from school, or that I need to take care of other matters.
These occasional feelings don’t mean that I’m unhappy with my life; overall, I’m pretty happy with where I’m at. What it does mean, however, is that sometimes I feel stuck in a rut. I don’t have to make huge, sweeping life changes to get out of that rut, though. It’s possible to climb out of that rut with small changes in your life.
What You Can and Can’t Change
One of the reasons that many of us get stuck in a rut has to do with what can and can’t be changed. (Or what we feel can’t be changed.) There are some things in life that just can’t be changed, no matter what. There are also some things in life that can be changed, but that we are unwilling to change. (Rather, perhaps you feel that working hard at something, such as your marriage, will be worth more in the end than completely changing course and abandoning your current course of action.)
And, of course, there are the things you can change.
It’s important to identify these things in your life. Know which things you can’t change, the things you are unwilling to change, and the things you can change. If you feel stuck in a rut, it’s time to focus on the things that you can change. And sometimes those small changes can be just what you need to motivate yourself and bring back your desired level of satisfaction with your life.
Small Changes for Increased Happiness
You might be surprised at what small changes can do in your life. In my case, just making time to practice the piano or guitar has made a big difference in my level of satisfaction. I’ve added a couple of civic activities to my roster of Things To Do, and it’s also helped. It’s not a huge change to devote a few hours a month to an organization you believe in, but it is amazing how much more fulfilled I feel.
Even just taking time for yourself on occasion can help. A change in routine, such as attending a conference, can also help you kick things up a notch. I know that I always feel energized and ready to move forward after FinCon, no matter what else is happening in my life. I also feel better when I just decide to shut down for a day and do something I enjoy, like read all afternoon. Just these small changes in routine can shake things up a bit and help you get out of your rut.
What do you think? Are small changes enough to help you with your life? Or do you feel like you need a big change to make a difference?
Small changes help for a while, but it’s definitely the big changes that make the most difference. If you can maintain small changes over a long amount of time that amounts to a big change as well – like going to the gym! Gee, I need to start doing that.