4 Simple Experiments to Help You Be More Comfortable with Change

“Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.”
- Karen Kaiser Clark

We are told early and often in our lives that change is constant. Our friends change, our family changes, our living situation changes, the world changes, and even if we don't acknowledge it right away, we change.
But we're also told that change is hard and that "people have a hard time with change." But it doesn't have to be that way. Why be in such conflict with something inevitable?

I'd like to suggest to you that you can build your change muscles. I say "more comfortable" with change, knowing that we may always encounter uncomfortable times, but perhaps we can ease the tension a bit. When you approach change from a place of ease, you can find the smoothest path forward and see the benefits and growth points of change.
With that, here are four simple experiments -- or adventures, if you like -- to help you be more comfortable with change.

Shop at a New Grocery Store

Do you remember the last time you walked into an unfamiliar grocery store? You probably tried your best to quickly get right to the item you needed and get back out fast. (And let's not forget that time your usual store reconfigured their aisles, grumble, grumble.) For this adventure, on one of your next weekly grocery shops, visit a store that is new to you.
Instead of feeling frustrated not knowing where anything is, explore the store with fresh eyes. Discover something new. Notice what you haven't noticed before.
Most consumers put the exact same items into their grocery cart every week. Instead, choose to try something new. Change up your taco night. Upgrade one of your meals. Go vegetarian one night with a vegetable you've never seen before.

Go for a Walk In a New Part of Town

Walking is such a great way to explore -- you can really soak up the details and get to stretch those legs and lungs all at the same time.
When's the last time you went for a walk in your town? All you need to do is find somewhere with sidewalks or a trail! Find a park, a trail, or a historic street that you don't know that well, and take a walk. Notice the details. Is there a shop that sparks an idea? Can you feel that restorative energy of Mother Nature?
You don't need to walk for hours -- at least 30 minutes will do -- and you don't need to go for miles. Instead, I challenge you to take it slow and notice the details of the architecture, the nature, the sounds.

Rearrange Your Furniture

There's nothing like changing up the way you've got furniture laid out in your house to give you a fresh, new perspective on the everyday. Maybe you can clean up any feng shui issues, but really just moving your couch to a new location can help give you a psychical shift that will translate to mental shifts.
Ask yourself where your home could flow a little more easily, and use that as your guide for rearranging. This is your excuse to throw out/recycle old pieces that just aren't serving you and are taking up precious space. Create some room for something better to come along.

Book a Weekend Getaway with No Plan

Plum Deluxe has no shortage of weekend getaway ideas for you to get out of town and get a change of scenery. But here's a new twist: vacation with no plans.
Decide where you're going to go -- and I do think you can book your accommodation, as I want this to be a fun experiment, not super stressful. But otherwise, don't research anything. Just show up and let the universe help you discover what's on offer in this new backdrop. Use your intuition to see what restaurants or pubs call to you, drive around and just explore what attractions might be tucked away in the area.
While I don't want you to use Google or Yelp, you can ask a local for clues.
And with all of these experiments, remember: these adventures are meant to be fun. Laugh off any mishaps, breathe when you're feeling stressed or thinking, "wow this was a dumb idea, Plum Deluxe." And no matter what happens, when you're finished for the day, ask yourself this question:

Lead photo by Steve Harvey.