Be aware of everything, but able to change very little.
This is precisely the biggest issue some of us face.
Noticing too many things and being able to change only a few adds an extra burden to one’s shoulders. Over time, this burden can press down a little harder, even opening the door to pessimism.
Please, let’s not confuse this with “learned helplessness”—that’s another topic entirely.
Awareness is a process that begins when you observe everything—living or non-living—that touches your eyes, emotions, and body, placing the resulting feelings into a mental framework.
When you conclude you’ve become aware of something, your brain solves a small equation, acquiring a “gain” that it carries forward.
These gains continue to accumulate over months and years.
As always, these accumulations are built upon highly “subjective” conclusions, and they don’t necessarily have to be correct.
I believe that one of the most crucial factors determining a person’s character is precisely how accurate these accumulations are over the years. Of course, I’m not going to delve into “what is correct.”
Without straying too far from our main topic, let’s assume that your accumulations are largely accurate.
And let’s assume you’re aware of everything happening around you.
This brings us to our next point: You realize something isn’t right in your life.
Changing something, even taking a single step toward change, requires significantly more energy than you might expect. Even just making the decision to change is itself a burden.
Because change inevitably pushes you outside your comfort zone. And often, it’s impossible to predict the outcomes of this change.
So, what exactly is this “Comfort Zone”? In the simplest terms, it’s continuing to do everything in your current life exactly as you’re used to, with predictable outcomes.
Either you’re incredibly foresighted and can calculate every result of the butterfly effect you might create, maintaining the reassuring sense of still being “within your comfort zone,” or you bravely plunge forward based solely on your feelings, constantly confronting adrenaline and uncertainty. While this adrenaline might sound exciting to some, it’s not like riding a roller coaster at an amusement park; because in real life, your decisions have lasting consequences.
Though feelings tend to deceive us frequently, they can occasionally act as tools that subconsciously calculate the butterfly effect and convey it to you through a single word. However, since it’s nearly impossible to confirm this theory, it’s more logical to categorize it under “I’m sure, but I can’t prove it.”
Ultimately, our logic generally operates like this when we notice a situation that’s bothering us:
Change something. The outcome should be better for you than the previous situation.
If you’re somewhat selfish, your task is relatively easier; you don’t worry too much about how the outcomes benefiting you might affect others. This approach offers you a more comfortable life experience.
But if the opposite is true, you may find yourself trying endlessly to resolve conflicts of interest.
In conclusion, awareness itself isn’t necessarily a burden; it might be one’s most powerful guide in life. The key is having the courage and ability to manage this awareness effectively.
You’ll never be able to predict with 100% certainty what will happen next—I can guarantee you that, considering the countless variables in the universe. However, by leveraging your awareness, you’ll witness the direct impact taking action, rather than remaining inactive, can have on your life. Most times, after making decisions, you’ll find yourself saying, “I’m glad I did it.”
