Week 39 - "Life moves very fast. It rushes from heaven to hell in a matter of seconds" - Paulo Coelho

Oct 30, 2023

An aspect of life I’ve always been fascinated by is the ability for it to change so drastically in an instant. To be able to go from joy to despair or stagnation to exhilaration in a heartbeat is a testament to life’s beautiful but fickle nature.

And although many of these moment are truly random, I still believe there exists a thread of consistency. As I’ve grown, I’ve learned how many transformative surprises in life are outcomes of choices made in anticipation.

In other words, unless you put yourself in situations for things to change, they probably won’t. If you’re trying to make friends or find a significant other, your chances are significantly higher when you put yourself in a situation to do just that. That could mean going to a party, talking to your roommates, or even just walking around town. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, only that you’re giving yourself a chance for things to change.

That’s because relying on serendipity to change anything in life is a waste of time. Both unfortunately and fortunately, life isn’t scripted. When it comes to knowing what could happen in your life, one can never truly forecast with certainty.

But that’s precisely why it’s so important to be agentic when you’re hoping for change. No one will hand you the experiences you’re looking for on a silver platter. Everyone is too busy looking for their own changes to help you curate your story.

So if you can say yes to opportunities, even the insignificant ones, life has a weird way of knowing you’re ready for that change.

Most life-changing moments can be traced back to a decision, action, or just being more present. So position yourself wisely. While life can change in an instant, it often waits for you to move first.

Tarun’s Substack

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