These 11 Comparisons Reveal The Unexpected Diversities Of Life

Change is happening all around us, whether we notice it or not. Sometimes it’s subtle, like the way a favorite tree in your backyard grows taller each year, and other times it’s as obvious as a skyline that suddenly looks nothing like it did before.

Through photos, we can see these transformations more clearly. So we’ve gathered some of the most fascinating comparison images from around the web to show you just how remarkable they can be. Take a look below—you might find yourself appreciating the world in a whole new way.

11 PHOTOS

#1 Two-Faced Cat

Change is a natural part of life. Even if we refuse to take part in it, the world keeps turning, the seasons move forward, and time marches on. With everything constantly in motion, it’s easy to miss how things gradually evolve around us, or even within ourselves.

Interestingly, it’s not entirely our fault if we resist change. Humans are wired to be cautious about it—a survival instinct developed over many years.

#2 These Eggs Were Not Dyed. Different Breeds Of Chickens Lay Different Colored Eggs

“When we’re born, our brain is completely malleable and experiencing new things all the time,” says Santosh Kesari, MD, PhD, neurologist, neuro-oncologist, and neuroscientist. “We’re figuring out positive and negative behaviors, what is good for survival, and avoiding consequences that would cause even short-term pain. As we age, our brain learns ways to do things that make us do certain things, and behave accordingly to each context and each stimulus.”

#3 People Always Told Me I Looked Like My Father. So When I Found A Photo Of Him At 28 Years Old, I Had To Recreate It When I Turned 28

#4 I Came Back To This One Waterfall In Yamagata During 3 Different Seasons

In other words, our brains figure out what works and what doesn’t early on. This is helpful because it means we don’t have to keep relearning positive behaviors. However, the downside is that our brains get comfortable with certain patterns, making it difficult to adopt new habits or break old ones. That’s why trying to change routines, like incorporating more exercise, can feel counterintuitive for our minds and bodies.

#5 Bird Sitting On Its Info Board

#6 All Of The Different Colors Of Carrots

“Emotionally and cognitively and executively the brain has established a lot of pathways,” says Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a licensed clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist. “The more you do something the more ingrained it becomes in neural pathways, much like how a computer stores the sites you visit—when you log onto your browser, they will pop up because you use them a lot. Change is an upheaval of many things and the brain has to work to fit it into an existing framework.”

#7 Same Spot, Same Cat, Two Years Difference

#8 The Pocket Size In Female vs. Male Levi’s Jeans

#9 A Skagit Valley Tulip Dares To Be Different In Mount Vernon, Washington

So, tasks like driving to work or taking a shower become automatic because we do them every day. Since they’re embedded in our neural pathways, these actions make daily life easier. As a result, “the brain doesn’t have to think too much,” says Dr. Stephanie Collier, director of education in the division of geriatric psychology at McLean Hospital and an instructor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

#10 A Polar Bear's Paw Print Compared To A Human Hand

#11 Police Come In All Shapes And Sizes. 6'9" Compared To 5'1"