Life often feels like a waiting game. “Give me a chance, and I’ll change.” It’s a phrase we hear all the time—spoken by someone hoping for love, someone chasing a dream job, or someone promising they’ll be different if only they get another shot. But here’s a question worth pondering: Do we need a chance to change, or does change create our chances?
Waiting for a Chance: The Comfort of External Opportunities
It’s natural to believe that opportunities come first. You might be waiting for that perfect job opening, the right person to love you back, or a big break that will finally push you forward. When we think like this, we assume that change is conditional—that we can only grow or improve when the right moment arrives.
But waiting for chance can be dangerous. What if it never comes? Or worse—what if it comes, but you’re not ready?
Leading with Change: Creating Your Own Opportunities
Some of the most successful and fulfilled people aren’t the ones who waited for a chance but those who changed first. They built their skills before the dream job appeared. They learned self-love before finding the right partner. They worked on their confidence before the world noticed them. Change, in these cases, wasn’t the result of luck—it was the foundation that attracted new opportunities.
When you change first, you position yourself for the chances you want. You’re not just hoping for love, success, or happiness; you’re becoming the kind of person who naturally aligns with those things.
The Love Perspective: Don’t Wait to Be “Enough”
Many people hold back in love, thinking, If I just had a chance, I could prove I’m worth loving. But what if you flipped the script? Instead of waiting for the right person to validate you, what if you worked on becoming the best version of yourself—emotionally, mentally, spiritually? Love, when it comes, won’t feel like a lucky chance. It’ll feel like something you were ready for all along.
The Career Perspective: Skills Before Spotlight
The same applies to careers. Imagine two people: One waits for a dream job, while the other builds their skills, network, and confidence in the meantime. Who do you think gets the opportunity first? Sometimes, change opens doors that chance never would.
So, Which Comes First?
Maybe it’s not about waiting or chasing. Maybe the real answer lies in action—choosing to change while staying open to the chances that follow. When we embrace change, we become open to chance. And when we take chances, they push us toward change. Instead of waiting for an opportunity to transform you, start transforming yourself—and see how many more chances come your way.
Your Move: What are you waiting for? And what can you start changing today?