The other day a friend asked me why I never do software updates on my iPhone or MacBook.

Apparently it’s time to buy a new iPhone, and even those choosing not to upgrade can bump up to the newest operating system on their current devices.

I’m usually always a phone or two behind the newest model, unmotivated to spend the extra cash until my old one breaks. You’ll never see me standing in line waiting for a new phone, or counting down the minutes to the software update.

Sure, these enhancements usually include cool features that previous versions do not, but until I absolutely have to, I usually opt not to update.

I gave a few excuses for my lack of motivation to do so (it takes time to let the software update, glitches in updates have caused problems in the past, etc.), but when it came down to it, the real answer was staring me right in the face, a truth nobody likes to admit.

I hate change.

It’s human nature to seek comfort in the familiar and avoid anything that rocks the boat.

Change is inevitable, so there is no sense in fighting it.

The more I thought about some of the major changes in my life, the more I realized that in many cases, change has been good.

Of course the majority of the changes have been bigger than an iPhone update, but the impact of those alterations has been comparable to updating my technology.

Take, for example, heading away to college. This is an experience many people can relate to, one that, no matter how excited you may be for it, can be a little intimidating.

I remember panicking about being in a new town, in more difficult classes, among a much larger group of classmates than I was used to. In fact, I tried to bolt a time or two during my first week of classes. Afraid that the change was just too big for me, I tried to get my mom to let me come home and attend community college instead.

Looking back, college was one of the most impactful experiences of my life. I made some of my closest friends, found my way to a career I love, made some of my favorite memories and grew tremendously as a person.

Like those iPhone updates, the change took some getting used to. It was nerve-wracking at first, and there was certainly some risk involved, but the end result was a cooler, more productive product.

The fact of the matter is, changes like these happen constantly. What was common practice for a business five years ago may be considered old-fashioned and redundant now. The trends we aimed to emulate last spring may be old news today. People constantly develop new interests, skillsets and aspirations, and are thus always changing themselves.

To be successful, it is imperative that we be flexible and adaptable. We must be open-minded — and sometimes a little courageous — but, like the new iPhone or the software update, in the end, it’s usually worth the risk.

 

Ambrosia Neldon is the managing editor at Leader Publications. She can be reached by phone at (269) 687-7713, or by email at ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com