You Can Just Do Things
It is easy to forget that life has no rules. You are allowed to wake up and decide to do things not like in a crazy, drive-your-car-into-oncoming-traffic type of way, but in the sense that you have near complete autonomy in your life. You live the life you live because you chose to live it that way. You can largely change everything about your life at any moment. You truly aren’t bound to anything. Not your habits, diet, hobbies, work, or anything.
I think most people comprehend this concept, but haven’t truly internalized it. They know that the rope that holds them to the hitching post is an illusion, but never pull on it. They allow social pressure, fear of failure, insecurity, or any number of things to hold them back from change.
It is easy to do things because that is the way it’s always been. It is easy not to question the choices and the trajectory you are on. However, you are a missile (adjustable trajectory), not a rocket (fixed trajectory). You can change your mind and start living differently.
But, you may ask, “Why should I just start doing things and make changes?”
That is a perfectly reasonable question. I mean, you’ve gotten this far living life the way you have, so evidently, it is fine the way it is. In scenarios where you are content with everything in your life, don’t make changes for the sake of making changes. But, if you want to improve your life, get more out of it, or just make it more exciting, don’t let the mindset of “that’s the way it’s always been” get in the way of doing so.
Life is great if you make it great.
Great reminder about agency. The missile vs rocket distinction really captures it, most people genuinly don't internalize they can adjust trajectory mid-flight. I've noticed this with career moves especially, folks will complain for years about thier job but act like changing is some impossible feat when its literally just submitting applications. The social pressure part is underrated too, people anchor themselves to others' expectations without realizing those expectations are mostly imagined.