Introduction

Recently, I've been exploring the idea of what truly causes us to mature and grow as individuals.

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We always see a friend/former lover/family member after some time and say, "Wow, you've changed." Usually it's for the better. Now, the individual doesn't immediately notice it or realize what the cause is.

I think I've narrowed it down so that you know what to look for and realize that what is happening around you will change you permanently.

It all comes down to major life events. On average, we will probably have 4-5 major life events that occur to us personally. They can range from a cross-country permanent move to the loss of a career.

That's not to say that you personally will have 4-5 life changes. We can orchestrate our own events, and for some individuals, a major change might feel like a minor change depending on the circumstances. For example, a nomadic lifestyle individual won't treat their next move as a major event because they are constantly traveling. However, they might find a permanent placement in their current home a major life change.

It is OUR job as individuals to identify these life changes and grow with them or be consumed and eventually destroyed by them.

Only YOU can overcome the negative feelings associated with your major life event because no one will be going through whatever it is you are going through at the time.

I don't want the idea of a major life event to have a negative connotation, but I believe it is human nature to initially reject a massive change on an emotional level because of the uncertainty associated with it.

We must embrace every major life event that comes our way and learn to grow with them. These experiences are what will shape your future personality and the way you interact with others.

Conclusion

So, the next time you lose a career position, find yourself living in a new home on a sudden whim, find yourself broken up with the partner you shared more than five years with, etc., I want you to think what you can possibly do to take away any good from the situation and come out a better person.