When You Tire Of The Paint Color …
Six years ago you painted a room. At the time you thought “wow that’s a great color, it’s timeless and goes with everything. Awesome!”
Time passes and the color fades. It’s not as great as you once thought it was. It’s not really “in” anymore and the accessories you have since adorned your house with don’t really go with the color.
Odds are you won’t sit there and stew about what to do. The answer is pretty obvious … you’ll change it. You’ll take a weekend and repaint.
So why is it, when we grow tired of a particular situation we’re in we do nothing about it? We sit and we stew. All too often we unhappily sit in misery because we’re afraid to simply repaint. Why?
Is it because we’re afraid of the unknown or is it because we don’t know what else to do? Is it because we worry too much about what others will think or say about us or is it because we need permission to take the leap?
Whatever the reason if you’re unhappy and miserable ask yourself what do you have to lose?
I give you permission to step out on the ledge and repaint.
Photo courtesy of: striatic
10 Responses to “When You Tire Of The Paint Color …”
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Your Life | Live it. Love it. is a book designed to encourage you to examine where you are right now and inspire you to get to where you ultimately want to be.
My take is that I am too scared to fail. I recently painted one wall in my kitchen bright orange and was really hurt when others sad it was too bright (they love it now). It’s the initial reaction to the change I make/want to make that frightens me the most.
Thank you for a great post and for making me think (again)
Hi Cyndi! If you let fear hold you back you could be missing out on some really great opportunities. If people have negative or highly critical initial reactions it’s likely because they don’t understand what you’re doing or why. I’m sure if you just took a minute or two to discuss it with them their tune would change. Give it a shot, get some confidence and just go for something. You could be really amazed at what you accomplish.
Hi Sherri
I am planning on making some positive changes and my blog is the first step. I am also trying to cut out the negative people in my life and focus on the positive.
I’ll let you know how I go,
Thanks
C
oh, and how cool that you replied
Cyndi from LatteJunkie: last blog ..30 Days of Truth
You are so talking to me Sherri! I know you are! LOL. Okay fine! I’ll go write what I need to get off my mind.
I just love you!
Chele: last blog ..I Wannabe Making Money
I think the difference, at least for me, is that a paint color doesn’t bear the same consequences as, say, a (loss of) paycheck or a child would. Sometimes the ramifications are so big and scary that they seem insurmountable. I think it’s easy to get stuck in the fear buildup for sure. And there are some things I should think about more as paint color and less as permanent life-altering things. For example: I’ve been wanting to tint my hair purple for about 8 years now, but have I done it? No. Because what if I end up not liking it? Silly. It’s just hair! It would take even less time to fix than a bad paint color!
Thanks for another thought-provoking post, and a nudge in the right direction.
bashtree: last blog ..regarding the future
It seems to me that when you tire of the paint color you should think about what other colors excite you. I believe this shifts the focus away from what’s holding you back and toward what makes you empowered. This promotes action, which is the root of all change.
> step out on the ledge and repaint.
Beautiful metaphor.
I think a common problem is “learned helplessness.” Ironically, taking action and testing your results is such a simple recipe.
J.D. Meier: last blog ..Insightful Personal Development Books
Cyndi that’s a great first step. Surround yourself with positive people and influences and just do good things. Awesome!
Chele, my girl. It really wasn’t directed at you but if you feel a pull to it then maybe it’s telling you something
I hope you’ve written your letter and have sent it off.
bashtree, you’re right the consequences are a bit higher with the loss of a paycheck or (heaven forbid) a child but my point is it’s actually quite easy to DO something irrespective of what it is. We tend to have these mental barriers, stuck in fear buildup as you say, when it involves people or challenging the way things “should” be. It’s really no different to painting a room in your house, you just have to do it. Also there is nothing saying you can’t go back to the old way or old whatever, if you don’t like the change. Like J.D. says look at your situation, take action, test it and see what you think. Now go dye your hair! ;P
Hi Koby, “Shift focus to what make you empowered.” I love that and I think you’re absolutely right!
Hi J.D. Thank you I’m glad you enjoyed it. I love that “learned helplessness” people playing the victim because really, it’s just easier that way. I love the agile approach to personal development as well that agile stuff can be applied to so much more than just programming and entrepreneurship! LOVE it.