Greenery or colour blindness?

You've heard about the grass being greener on the other side of the fence or something along those lines. I firmly believe this is true and those who think otherwise are merely suffering from a bad case of colour blindness. That's because when one gets up close to the thing one covets, one usually finds that it is highly overrated and out of one's comfort zone as well.

How many times have we wished 'if only I could change jobs or live somewhere else or do what I really enjoy doing 24/7?' Well, it often turns out that the other side, which has been bathed in glowing colours by our imagination, is but a mirage - nice to look at from afar but unable to bear the test of close scrutiny. Sometimes, one summons up the courage to take the bull by the horns and effect what seems a much-needed transformation of one's life or fortunes only to experience disillusionment.

It is better to live with what-ifs than to regret decisions that can't be taken back. At least the former affords you the luxury of dreaming about what you think is a better life while the latter opens your eyes to the uncompromising truth of reality.

Look at it this way. As a child, you couldn't wait to grow up. Now that you're all grown up (and how!) you look back on your childhood as a utopia that you wish you'd never left. Teenagers look forward to independence from what they view as unnecessary paternal interference and influence, sure that they can manage their lives without anyone looking over their shoulder, telling them what to do and how.

But when they're given the opportunity to make their own decisions for better or for worse, how many of them chicken out? Now that they've reached the precipice of adulthood, they shy away from the edge of no return. There's something frightening about having to take responsibility for one's actions, with no one to blame or smooth things out.

Much of this wisdom comes from hindsight or from the safe distance of years of experience when one can see clearly what one has had a narrow escape from. One is rarely satisfied with the status quo and yearns for something different. Very often we labour under the illusion that if we make a career move that promises better remuneration, we will somehow be happier and more fulfilled.

That is when one should recall the apt saying about better the devil you know than the one you don't. In the present situation we are well aware of whom to watch out for, who is a threat to our happiness or our moving up the ladder of success. We know our enemies and, through familiarity with their ways, can anticipate their every move. This knowledge can help us forestall disaster. If we were to move to completely different surroundings, we might find ourselves all at sea, not knowing whom to trust and the dangers we should look out for. While we flounder in this new setting trying to find a firm foothold, we might look back to a former workplace and, even as we view it warts and all, wonder why we took this precipitous step.

For those who thrive on challenges, this might be just the thing they revel in. But for those for whom excitement is just a word and nothing more, it just might prove to be the last straw. Not only are we out of our element but we are also full of regrets over our foolishness at leaving what was a safe environment for a future that seems fraught with risk.

So, the next time you are tempted to make a big change, think hard and long. Try the colour test. And if you suffer from colour blindness, here's wishing you all the best.