I am about to wrap up week one of my new job. It’s gone fairly well. I’m feeling comfortable. The people are nice. The work is challenging. The headquarters is in a scenic place (see pic on right). The only down side is that I’ve spent most the week away from my family. Hopefully the travel aspect of the new gig is a short-term sacrifice.

What I’ve discovered about myself in this process of making a job change is that I have really grown to loathe new things. I didn’t realize how comfortable I had gotten in my old patterns. How resistant I had become to change. But lately, it seems like anything with that “new car smell” is much less attractive to me.

Most of the anxiety I had around my new job was because I was starting over in terms of credibility, relationships, track record, etc. I fast forwarded through week one, trying to move as quickly as possible to a state of feeling settled in and comfortable. I couldn’t wait for it not to smell or feel new any longer. New was creating stress and discomfort.

I really need to watch out for that. If I go too far in that direction, I’m going to miss out on a lot of things, particularly in my spiritual walk.  And it isn’t enough for me to take chances and obediently make changes. I need to embrace them. I need to savor them. I stole the joy right out of starting a new job, with a clean slate and a world of opportunity. I replaced it with doubt and fear and hesitation. It’s all going to work out. But because of my aversion to the new car smell, I have already missed some of the blessing.

The best way to continue growing is to never stop. And if you’re like me, and feel like you’ve all but slowed to a halt, maybe it is time to start over. Embrace change and breathe in that new car smell!