Embrace Change and Follow Your Dreams

Let’s face it: Change is no fun. Most of us like to stay in our comfort zone. But, inevitably, something comes along to shake us out of it. Personally, I have been out of my comfort zone for so long that I can’t remember the last time I felt comfortable.

Over the last five years, I have bought and sold two veterinary practices, relocated my family from Texas to San Diego, created a new brand, and launched an online practice management training program. But the biggest change I’ve experienced is living in a foreign country.

I’ve been dreaming of living in another country since I traveled to Europe while in college. I imagined living in Tuscany or the South of France after retiring. Now, 20 years before retiring, I’m living my dream, but instead of Europe, I’ve found myself in Baja, California, Mexico. How? I embraced change and took risks.

How I realized my dreams

After meeting with our financial planner a few years ago, we came to the conclusion that we should sell our condo, which was located in one of the highest priced real estate markets in the U.S. While we weren’t super excited about leaving our dream home, we put it on the market and priced it aggressively so we could justify giving it up. Within five days, we had six offers, and the offer we accepted required us to move out within three weeks.

This is what happiness looks like.

We had to act fast, and we decided to check out Mexico for three reasons. First, the real estate market is a fraction of the cost compared to Southern California. Second, the border is only eight miles from downtown San Diego. And third, we got excited about the adventure of temporarily living in another country for 6-12 months while planning our next move.

I know what you’re probably thinking: Mexico?? That’s scary! And, it was scary! Our friends and family were skeptical about our move. They were worried about our safety. I was scared and nervous for a number of reasons. How would I communicate with the locals without speaking Spanish? Where would we buy groceries? Would there be dependable WiFi? What about medical care? Dry cleaning? Where would I get my hair and nails done? Would there be good restaurants?

Despite my fears, within two weeks of selling our condo, we moved to a small beach community, Rosarito Beach, which was only 38 kilometers from the U.S. border. When our friends and family visited, they quickly realized how great and safe our new surroundings were. No matter where you live, you have to be smart about your surroundings to stay safe. (The year we moved to California, I was actually mugged leaving a Texas church at 12:30 p.m.!)

And, in time, I found that our new home not only had everything we needed, but that those things were actually better than what were were accustomed to in the U.S., and they were less expensive, too!

Now, I’m truly living my dream. I wake up every morning to the sounds of seagulls cawing and the ocean waves crashing on the beach. Every day is an adventure, and I am so grateful that I went far out of my comfort zone and embraced this kind of change.

Why you should embrace change

What change do you need to make in your life? The good news is that embracing change is not a difficult skill to learn. And, once you start looking at change as a good thing, you’ll be amazed at some of the benefits that can follow, including:

1. Change helps you grow. Change often forces us to adapt in ways we’ve never experienced, which can be a major driver of personal (and even professional) growth and development.
2. Change teaches you to be flexible. Try to think of change as something that gets you out of your rut. By embracing change and meeting it head-on with excitement, you can learn to not be so set in your ways, which can help you maintain a more positive attitude.
3. Change offers opportunities. By altering the way you live your life, even in a small way, change can present opportunities that can have a domino effect, providing you with more choices than you ever dreamed possible, so you can create a more fulfilling and authentic life.

In my online program, the Relationship Centered Practice Academy, members learn the importance of embracing change with clarity and intention through a compelling vision and strategic plan.

Are you ready to embrace change and live your best life? Let’s get started!