A change is as good as a rest, so the saying goes. But what if you just want the rest without the change?
I have just returned from my summer holiday. Two glorious weeks in Finland and the surrounding archipelago. My family and I have visited the Swedish side of the Baltic Sea, several times before. We knew that our holiday would be familiar in many ways but found ourselves saying the same thing in all sorts of situations from admiring the views to visiting the supermarket: “It’s the same but different.”
It’s counterintuitive, how can something be the same but different?
Humans seek out familiarity and we are often resistant to difference or change. Creatures of habit love routine and the slightest deviation can throw them off track. Even the most laid-back people have a favourite brand of something.
Change is a scary prospect. Your brain locks down and goes into fight, flight or freeze mode. It wants to keep you safe. That is helpful if you are being attacked but it can hamper your ability to adapt to new circumstances.
Change is an unwelcome visitor. Plans get ruined, people part company, jobs come and go, companies restructure, systems change, health and wellbeing change as you age, the menopause is even called “The Change,” the list is endless. The reality of life is that nothing stays the same. Change is inevitable but it is possible to see change in a positive light.
Doing just one thing differently could be a clever way to implement bigger changes in your life.
Here is an example of what I mean:
I like to exercise but on my two-week holiday I ditched my strength training days (who has the luggage capacity to pack weights?) but kept up regular walking. I do this anyway, but it tends to be a solitary activity and I live in a city. I usually walk for about an hour, sometimes more. If I want to solve a problem, I walk without my headphones as undistracted, mindful walking helps my creativity. Sometimes I just want to empty my brain and listen to a great playlist or podcast.
On my holiday, I did the same thing but differently. I walked the same number of steps but had a vastly different and more creative experience. I have reflected on the differences and realised that my senses were more awake. I was more present and focussed.
There were stark visual differences between my usual urban walk and the meadows, sea, and forest in Finland. I am far more likely to see a rat on my urban walk compared to families of deer, hares, cows, or a snake!
Everything smelt different from the pine forest and damp earth smell to the meadows and sea.
The sounds were different from the noise of the wind rustling through the tress to the bird song and insects. There was very little traffic and engine noise was more likely to come from a boat rather than a car.
I noticed how I moved and the change in my breathing as I walked up and down hills.
The best difference was walking with a friend. Having company was fun and we achieved so much. Problems were shared, solved and the world was put to rights. I learnt new things and the seeds of interesting ideas were sewn.
The change in my routine walk was just the rest that I needed and a fantastic example of active relaxation, which I talk more about here.
How can doing something familiar but differently help you?
It can help you to experience being outside your comfort zone. Testing the water in a non-threatening way.
It can help you to challenge your assumptions about yourself and others.
It can provide new insights and you will learn something new.
It opens the door to new possibilities and the potential for long term change.
It allows your brain to make new connections.
It can spark your creativity and help you to problem solve.
You can always go back to your old ways, so you have nothing to lose.
As a coach, I help people to make positive change in their professional or personal lives.
Or put more simply, I help the same person do things differently.
What can you try to do differently?
I would love to know how it goes for you and what you notice. Let me know in the comments.