Change only happens when forced

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein

My life is pretty great. I am doing what I love for a living, photography and movies, and I’m only 24. I have an amazing family that supports me in everything I do. I’m well liked, am in pretty good shape, practice the “leave the campsite cleaner than you found it” philosophy (essentially leaving people better off for having known you), etc.

And yet I know that there is so much more potential for who I can be. I am constantly having this nagging voice in my head to push myself to become the idealized version of me. The one in my head that doesn’t skip a gym workout, is an avid outdoorsmen, reads constantly, has a thirst for knowledge, treats everyone around him with respect and kindness, volunteers for the less fortunate and above all is mindful about every action I take.

I feel Einstein’s quote pertains really well to my sentiment right now. I know the person I want to become but I keep living my life the same way expecting that I will suddenly be able to become this person. Occasionally I’ll have weeks/months where I change my habits and see myself starting to scratch the surface of the person I want to become but without fail I always go back to my “same way”.

I know the life I’m living right now will not lead to greatness. Is it still insanity if you know what you are doing will not lead you where you want to go and yet you continue to trudge down that path?

“A general rule in creating stories is that characters don’t want to change. They must be forced to change. Nobody wakes up and starts chasing a bad guy or dismantling a bomb unless something forces them to do so. The bad guys just robbed your house and are running off with your last roll of toilet paper, or the bomb is strapped to your favorite cat. It’s that sort of thing that gets a character moving.” – Donald Miller’s “A Million Miles in A Thousand Years”

I need to find that something that will force me to change and head towards that idealized version of me. Need to start dismantling that bomb, haha. The question now becomes what will be that force.

Book: A Million Miles in A Thousand Years

I feel A Million Miles in A Thousand Years, by  local Portland author, Donald Miller, gives a great philosophy towards living your life. The biggest takeaway I took from the story is that in our lives the most memorable and greatest moments almost always come from pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone, experiencing pain, and taking the harder path. When we finally reach the joyous part it becomes that much more rewarding because of all the hard work it took to get there. Now whenever I’m feeling down and not wanting to go to the gym, edit photos, or go out with friends I just think to myself “how can I make a better life story” and that usually motivates me to get out.

I definitely recommend picking up a copy of the book. And it’s now in paperback.