Why Change is Hard – But Why You Must Do It Anyway

Let’s get straight to it.

Change is hard. There’s no sugar-coating it. Whether it’s changing jobs, improving your career, or changing yourself—there are real, solid reasons why people resist it. You’re not broken. You’re not weak. You’re human.

But if you understand why change is so difficult, you’ve already taken the first step toward making it happen. And trust me, if you can push through these barriers, you can open up doors in your career and your life that you didn’t even know existed.

So here’s the truth—the real, unfiltered truth—about why change is so hard. And why you need to do it anyway.

1. Emotional Attachment

Like it or not, we’re attached to how things are. Even if those things aren’t great. Why? Because they’re familiar. They’re safe. Even the worst habits, the worst jobs, the worst situations—you know them, you’re used to them. Change means breaking that emotional bond. And yes, even small changes can feel like a wrench. But it’s only when you let go of what’s holding you back that you free up space to move forward.

2. Loss of Control

When you’re doing what you’ve always done, you feel in control. You know how it works, you know what’s coming. Change takes that away. It puts you into the unknown. Suddenly, you’re not the master of your environment—you’re a learner again. That feels uncomfortable. But here’s the thing: feeling uncomfortable is the price of growth.

3. Habit – The Brain’s Energy Saver

Humans are creatures of habit. Your brain is designed to save energy. Doing the same thing over and over? Easy. Changing that routine? That takes work. It burns energy. It makes your brain sweat a bit. But that’s exactly how you grow. If it’s easy, you’re not growing. Simple as that.

4. Fear of the Unknown

“What if it gets worse?” That little voice in your head loves to whisper doubts. And fear? Fear will give you a thousand reasons to stay put, even if you’re unhappy. Because at least you know what unhappy feels like.But here’s the truth: fear is a liar. Most of the time, the unknown is where all the best stuff is waiting.

5. Moving Out of Your Comfort Zone

Change means discomfort. That’s the deal. But let me tell you something from experience—nothing worth having comes from staying comfortable. If you want more, you’ve got to get uncomfortable. Short-term discomfort for long-term gain.

6. Old Processes Die Hard

In organisations, in life, in your own habits—old ways of doing things don’t just disappear because you’ve decided to change. They’re ingrained. They’ve got a life of their own. But persistence beats resistance. Keep pushing. Keep going.

7. Instant Reward Mindset

We all want quick results. We’re wired for it. If we don’t see instant progress, we lose motivation. But real, meaningful change? That takes time. Don’t let the lack of instant rewards stop you. Because if you stop, starting again becomes ten times harder.

So why am I telling you all this?

Because I’ve seen it time and time again. People staying in jobs they hate, careers they’ve outgrown, situations they’ve outlived—because change feels hard.

But it’s not impossible.

And here’s the most important part:

If you can face this head-on—if you can look at these reasons and call them out for what they are—you can move past them. You can create a better career, a better life, a better you.

I’ve done it. I’ve watched others do it. I’ve built businesses from nothing. I’ve helped thousands of people change their lives. And every single time, it starts with that one decision—to stop letting fear, comfort, or habit dictate your life.

You’ve got a choice. Stay stuck. Or get uncomfortable and grow.

I’ll leave you with this:

Change is hard. But staying the same? That’s harder.

Mark Goode CEO, Inspired Recruitment Changing the way recruitment works. Making it personal.

Mark Goode is the CEO of The Inspired Recruitment Group which originated with the inception of Inspired Selections a recruitment agency primarily focused on recruitment in the optical industry before branching out into audiology and pharmaceutical recruitment. New optical opportunities are featured daily here or if you're a business, looking for help with your recruitment needs, get in touch here