Don't Be Afraid to Make a Change: Variety is the Spice of Life

Matter of fact, we explore all aspects of life.

From the good, the bad, and the ugly.

But all of that is done with one purpose.

One purpose.

To inspire you to never give up on life.

Even when it may seem like life has given up on you.

Now I get it, life is hard.

But starting today, you've got grit, grace, and inspiration.

What's going on and welcome to episode 124 here on Grit, Grace, and Inspiration.

My name is Kevin Lowe, I'm your host, and today is a Friday episode, so that means it's a solo.

Yep, sorry about your luck, but you're not getting no guests today.

It's just me.

But today we are talking about another subject matter that I feel impacts your life directly.

And that's the point of these Friday episodes is to give you actionable, tangible pieces of advice that you can implement in your life right this very second to start improving the day.

Because that's what I want for you out of today's episode is I want today to be better than yesterday.

I want tomorrow to be better than today.

All because you listened to this podcast and you took action.

So what am I talking about?

Today I am talking about variety is the spice of life.

Amen to that.

So for my listener who you are Mr.

only stick with the same flavor of ice cream every time you go to the ice cream shop, you really need to tune in.

Or you who goes to your favorite restaurant and always orders the same thing, no matter how many times you read the whole menu, you better listen up.

Because I am talking specifically to you.

Now, for my fellow variety is the spice of life, people in the crowd.

Well, it's also kind of for you too.

Because today we are talking about more than just ice cream flavors or choosing different items at our favorite restaurant.

We're talking about life.

We're talking about things that are working or not working, things that bring us joy or don't, things that make us happy or sad, and ultimately deciding: is it time to make a change?

Do we need to mix things up?

Do we need a little variety in our life?

I think more times than not, that is the case.

But let's dive into today's episode and have you determining for yourself if you need a little bit more variety in your life.

Let's spice it up.

There's a lot of things we can be afraid of in this life, like spiders, snakes, even clowns.

But one thing not on that list is change.

And that's because I believe we should not stress out, agonized over, can't sleep, scared to death because of that word called change.

Instead, I believe we need to flip the script and start embracing change with open arms.

Because think about it.

What change means is that it's the chance at a new beginning, the chance at a new start, a fresh start on whatever it is in life.

And yeah, I get it.

In many ways, each of those things may kind of be scary in their own way.

Because something new means that we are stepping outside of our comfort zone.

We are taking a new direction in life where we are entering the unknown.

But that's how we grow.

That's how we become bigger, better, more resilient people is by embracing the unknown, by embracing change.

And here's my mindset shift for you.

Sometimes we can learn a lot by looking at children.

Children, their minds aren't cluttered with all the things that life throws at them, like we are as adults.

They haven't experienced loss like we have.

They haven't been hurt.

They haven't been disappointed.

Their minds are open and they're free to possibilities.

And so I would encourage you to start looking at honestly all aspects of life, but especially this topic of change from the mindset of a child.

Because why can't we instead view change with excitement, enthusiasm?

Can't sleep because we're so excited, not because we're so worried.

It's the chance at a new adventure.

That's what change is all about.

And now making a change, using variety in your life, it goes far different than just choosing a new ice cream flavor or picking out a different colored shirt than what you're used to.

It goes back to your everyday life and whether or not you are happy with where you are, with what you're doing, with who you're doing life with.

Now, I understand that using the word happy, are you happy with what you're doing?

Happy with where you are, happy with who you're doing life with can be a little bit strange.

Because no, I don't think most people are particularly happy about waking up early on Monday morning after a long weekend driving to work.

But fill in whatever word you will.

Does it bring you joy?

Does it light you up inside?

If you instead find yourself using only negative words to express the way you feel, well, maybe that's the sign.

The sign that maybe it's time for you to make a change.

So think about it.

Think about your work.

Think about your friends.

Think about your relationships.

How do you describe those?

Do they bring you joy?

Does it light you up inside?

Do your eyes sparkle every time you see your bride?

Now, again, I don't want this to seem kind of silly and like, well, Kevin, not every day is amazing.

No, I get it.

But I'm talking about big picture.

I'm not just talking about one instant.

I'm talking about looking at life from overhead.

Are you somebody who is happy?

You're joyful.

Or are you being brought down?

Are the people you're doing life with, whether that's inside your home or out with your friends, are they making you a better person or bringing out the worst in you?

If they're bringing out the worst in you, then baby, let me tell you what, it's time for you to make a change.

Some people may feel like, well, why change what isn't broken?

No, maybe I'm not particularly happy in this career, but it generates an income.

Or, no, maybe they're not the best friends in the world, but they're friends.

There's somebody I can do stuff with.

Okay, yeah, I get you.

But again, let's look at the big picture.

Is that really worth it?

Is it really and truly in your best interest to hang out with people who don't align with your goals, who don't bring you up to a higher level?

Is it really in your best interest to be in a job that you don't like?

Yeah, the money is great, but if you dread every single day you get out of bed in the morning, let me tell you, that is no way to live.

Now, talking about this idea of change, it doesn't always have to be serious stuff.

I keep using the example of your career or your relationships, your friends, whatever it is.

It could be something different, though.

Like your company.

Maybe you love your company, you own your own business, you love it, but maybe whatever the name of the company is or the branding you have, you just realize it's just no longer like suiting you or the business.

It's gone in a different direction.

And you're kind of thinking about making a change.

Kind of like what's happened here on this very podcast.

If you've been following the podcast this week, you will know that it's made a big transition.

I've made a rebrand.

I chose to make a change.

I went from this podcast being called The Low Down with Kevin

Lowe to what it is today: grit, grace, and inspiration.

I chose to make a change.

And to be honest, I could not be more excited about it.

And I want you to have that excitement in your life, no matter what it is that we're talking about.

Now, some people may say, but why change?

When what you had wasn't broken, when it looked good from the outside, why make a change?

Why go through the effort when what you have is comfortable?

Well, again, let's flip that script.

Let's step outside of the comfort zone.

Let's color outside of those lines because oftentimes the picture is made even more beautiful when color has no boundaries.

A banana split is made amazing because it's three different flavors of ice cream all in one big old boat.

What if it was three of the same?

That would be boring.

That wouldn't be exciting.

Remember, variety is the spice of life.

That's what I'm trying to get through to you today.

For myself, I eat the same cereal until I'm tired of it.

I listen to the same playlist until I realize, you know what?

I need a new genre.

And for this podcast, I rocked it until I decided, you know what, this baby needs an update.

I made the choice to make a change.

And I would encourage you to do the same.

So start small if change isn't quite your game.

I would encourage you to start with the beginning of the day, like breakfast.

Are you somebody who has the same thing for breakfast every single morning?

If so, I'll be honest, I just don't get you because I cannot have the same thing for breakfast.

I just can't do it.

I'm gonna have some cereal one morning, next morning it's a smoothie, next morning it's some Greek yogurt, and then maybe I'll circle back around to a little cereal.

I gotta have some variety in my life.

It's kind of like the same with picking out some clothes for the week.

I don't wanna be stuck wearing the same color shirt day after day.

No, I gotta spice it up.

Wear a black shirt on Monday, a pink one on Tuesday.

Wednesday, let's throw in the sky blue.

You know what I'm saying?

We gotta have some variety.

Think of the rainbow when we come to our wardrobe.

Now, I mention all of this because of one reason.

I want you to start looking at your own life.

Look at yourself in the mirror and think, am I living a life of variety?

Could my life use a little spice?

If you're thinking to yourself, yeah, I think so.

Well, then baby, bust out some spice and let's add a little variety to that life.

Now, here's the ticket.

How do we know what needs variety?

Well, we got to ask a few more questions.

What am I no longer excited about?

Am I thrilled about going out with my friends tonight?

Or is it becoming more of an obligation?

Am I joyful with the people I'm hanging out with in the morning?

Is the music that I'm listening to on the way to work making me joyful?

Am I singing along?

Or instead, am I listening to something that's bringing me down?

That's putting me in a bad mood.

And back to the ice cream reference from the beginning of the episode.

Am I just stuck with getting that same flavor of ice cream every time because it's comfortable?

Am I too scared to choose something different?

Because, well, what if I don't like it?

What if it doesn't work out?

Well, friend, I'm here to tell you that's the cool thing about life is that we are blessed with the ability to make a choice.

Each and every day you have a choice.

And today I'm encouraging you to make the choice of variety, to embrace change with open arms, to get excited about choosing something different, to going a different direction.

And again, let's get excited about it because we have the ability to make a change.

Now, here's where we really hit home with this topic.

What I don't want you to do is to stay stuck where you are, to not make a change.

And then 10 years from now, you look back on your life and you think to yourself, wow, what a waste.

Because I was comfortable, because the relationship that I'm in was comfortable, because this job is comfortable, I didn't do the hard things.

I didn't make the tough choices.

And instead, I just kept going through it day after day.

And now it's 10 years down the line.

And wow, what a waste these past 10 years have been.

Here's the power statement of the day.

Change isn't always easy, but regret is absolutely devastating.

If this resonates with you in your life, but the idea of doing this on your own just seems too daunting.

Well, friend, I'm here to tell you to reach out to me.

That's what I do with my coaching clients, is I help to coach them through the hard stuff, the decisions they're trying to make.

And I get to have them open their eyes and see the big picture, helping them to realize okay, I get it.

This is what I'm supposed to be doing.

If you would like to experience that, I encourage you to use my contact information provided inside of today's show notes and reach out to me and let's work together and see if we can't figure out a way to help you make a change.

Until next time, I encourage you to get out there and start mixing things up, choosing new flavors, ordering new things, and always remembering to live with grit, grace, and inspiration.

Hey, real quick before you go, I have one last thought to leave you with.

I of course hope that you've enjoyed today's episode, but more importantly, I want to remind you that I never want you to listen to an episode of this podcast to hear something that I have to say or that my guest has to share and think, wow, I wish I could be like them.

I wish I could overcome my own challenges and do the great things that they are doing, but I just can't.

Well, friend, that's where you're wrong.

unknown: You're wrong.

SPEAKER_00: You are capable.

You are able, and you darn sure are deserving of having all that you can imagine in this life.

There's nothing special about me or any guests I have on this podcast.

We are all just normal people trying to make it in this life.

And so I encourage you to take a look at yourself in the mirror and remind yourself that you know what?

I can do it too.

Now, of course, if you would like help along that way, reach out to me.

Whether that's as a listener of this podcast, a friend, or if you'd like to work with me as a coach.

My contact information is inside of every episode's show notes, just like this one.

So go down, check out my contact information, and reach out to me today.

With that said, I encourage you to take on the day every day with grit, grace, and inspiration.