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.
#1 Two-Faced Cat
Image credits: reddit.com
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 actually wired to be cautious about it—a survival instinct developed over many years.
#2 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
Image credits: Trollshak
“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 behaving accordingly to each context and each stimulus.”
#3 All Of The Different Colors Of Carrots
Image credits: reddit.com
#4 I Came Back To This One Waterfall In Yamagata During 3 Different Seasons
Image credits: souji5okita
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 These Eggs Were Not Dyed. Different Breeds Of Chickens Lay Different Colored Eggs
Image credits: PoppyToffee
#6 Same Spot, Same Cat, Two Years Difference
Image credits: alrightmousey
“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 that 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 Bird Sitting On Its Own Info Board
Image credits: Yoskeh
#8 The Pocket Size In Female vs. Male Levi’s Jeans
Image credits: Suspicious_Salad_864
#9 Police Come In All Shapes And Sizes. 6'9" Compared To 5'1"
Image credits: SCSO Katie Wood / Queensland Police
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
Image credits: cas2ie
#11 Hair Shrinkage Compared To Hair Straightener
Image credits: Clear_Constant_3709
#12 A Skagit Valley Tulip Dares To Be Different In Mount Vernon, Washington
Image credits: elundeen
Bad habits, however, are a bit different from regular routines. While they don’t benefit us, they feel good because the brain releases dopamine in response to them. When we try to break these habits, we create dissonance, which the brain resists, according to Dr. Luana Marques, associate professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School. The limbic system in the brain activates the fight-flight-or-freeze response, and our natural reaction is to avoid this “threat” by reverting to old behaviors, even though we know they aren’t good for us.
#13 My Dog Laika Has Two Different Eyes And Two Different Ears
Image credits: superfudge73
#14 5 Hour Difference In Iowa In April
Image credits: emik7133
#15 A Museum Demonstrating What Happens When You Let Visitors Touch Marble
Image credits: frituurgarnituur
“From an evolutionary standpoint we develop these neural pathways to adapt to live, so when we encounter change our brain shifts into a protective mode,” says Hafeez. “It has to use energy from reserves and it doesn't know, from that evolutionary standpoint, if the change is good for us or not. It doesn’t know if this change is a one-time deal or whether it needs to re-establish a routine. ‘Will it hurt me?’ A lot of red flags go up.”
“If you’re naturally aggressive and you have to change that angry behavior, that may be a struggle, while someone naturally relaxed who say, has to go through a legal battle may have to shift gears,” she adds. “So much is involved.”
#16 The Difference In Appearance Of This Nuthatch After I Found It vs. After A 2-Hour Nap In A Shoe Box
Image credits: FunSushi-638
#17 The Evolution Of My Final Take On An Origami Portrait Compared To My First Attempt. Practice Makes Perfect, As We Say
Image credits: Nemessys
#18 The Size Difference Of My Dogs, Both Girls And Same Breed
Image credits: heidipauliina
Humans are so set in their ways that we’re actually less cognitively flexible than some animals. A 2019 behavioral study from Georgia State University found that monkeys, for example, are much more open to trying new strategies to reach their goals.
In the study, both humans and monkeys were taught a method to achieve simple goals and receive rewards—recognition for the humans and banana pellets for the monkeys. They were then shown a shortcut that would help them reach their rewards faster. The monkeys were quick to adopt the more efficient shortcut, while humans were slower to embrace the new approach. However, once the benefits became clear, people were more likely to get on board.
#19 Objects In The Mirror Are In A Different Timeframe Than They Seem To Be
Image credits: phba
#20 Before And After The Recent Storm In Dubai. I Now Have A Lake View Apartment
Image credits: mrjamiemcc
#21 Human Next To The Femur Of Sauropod Patagotitan Mayorum. It Is One Of The Largest Dinosaurs In The History Of Our Life
Image credits: Aurimas Valujavičius keliautojas
Change also becomes more difficult to introduce as we age, but it’s essential for sustaining our cognitive health. “You absolutely can and should teach your brain to change,” says Hafeez. “If you stretch your brain past its comfort zone, you’re opening the door to being receptive to other types of change.”
To achieve this, there are various things we can do. Visual, spatial, and memory exercises are great ways to give your brain a workout, and many of these can be easily found online. At first, doing them regularly might not feel enjoyable.
“You will get frustrated,” notes Hafeez, “but that means it's working—just like how your muscles are sore after taking a break from the gym and then returning. You’ve been out of touch with this for a while, but the more you do it, the more your memory of how to do it comes back.”
#22 Mining Truck Compared To A School Bus
Image credits: holm8116
#23 Evolution Of A Collie Snout
Image credits: ladolcefroota
#24 The Sinks At This Family Restaurant In Belgium Are All Different Height
Image credits: archon810
Another effective way to make our brains more flexible is by learning new skills or hobbies that aren’t related to our daily routines. For example, learning a new language, or trying knitting if you work in IT. “Learning a new skill like this has been shown to ward off dementia, aging, and cognitive decline because it regenerates cellular activity,” says Hafeez. Even simple changes, like taking a new route home, stopping by a different coffee shop, or walking around your desk in the opposite direction, can help.
#25 It's Storming Outside One Of My Windows And Beautiful Outside The Other. The Windows Are Right Next To Each Other
Image credits: Lady_DudeBro
#26 The Size Difference Between Me And My Opposing Goalie The Other Night. I’m 5’3 Without Skates And He’s 6’7 Without Skates
Image credits: bluesxorpion
#27 Just Noticed The Size Difference Between Europe And The Land Of The Free On My Boxers
Image credits: Motherhazelhoff
Ultimately, regularly challenging ourselves to try new things and make positive changes can open us up to viewing the world differently and help us build confidence.
“Most people won’t try something new because they’re deathly afraid of failing,” says Hafeez. “When you see that something is doable it makes you more receptive and brave. There’s that emotional, therapeutic factor that is separate from the neural pathway factor. Over the years, we learn to succeed by viewing our previous failures and successes in a certain light and as we get older we lose sight of that. When you try a new thing it makes you more confident to try to do more new things.”
#28 One Of My Pepper Seedlings Is Albino
Image credits: romeaboo
#29 The Stark Difference Between A Kroger And Farmers' Market Strawberry
Image credits: DoodleNoodle08
#30 100% All Purpose Flour vs. 100% Whole Wheat Flour (1/2 And 1/2 In The Middle) Same Recipe, Same Process
Image credits: notabot780
#31 The Elevator For Art vs. A Normal Elevator
Image credits: Pinkfatrat
#32 The Size Difference Between My Mom And My Little Brother
Image credits: thesandwitchpeople
#33 Found 8 Different Colors Of Sand Within 10 Feet Of Each Other At The Beach
Image credits: ythegoodhandlestaken
#34 The Difference In The Fur Of My Almost Identical Cats (Spiky vs. Smooth)
Image credits: Intelligenitals
#35 The Size Difference Between My Aunt And Her Dog
Image credits: LetsGoLesko8
#36 My Dog’s Winter Coat vs. Summer Coat
Image credits: Jet_Threat_
#37 The Grapes I Bought Are The Size Of Baby Potatoes. Apple For Scale
Image credits: buicklad
#38 My Ring Finger On My Left Hand Has A Decidedly Different Mood Than The Other Three
Image credits: DeclinePipeline
#39 Same View From My Apartment, Taken A Year Apart
Image credits: Col0nelFlanders
#40 IV Fluid Pump From 1990 vs. 2020
Image credits: brunaBla
#41 Difference In Leg Size After Two Weeks Post-Surgery
Image credits: Explosivo_0
#42 My Wife’s New Backup Drive vs. The One She Bought In 2010
Image credits: pak256
#43 Tallest Man Compared To Me (5’2 And Wearing Platforms)
Image credits: VexingVibes
#44 The Size Of Antarctica's Ice Sheet Compared To A Cruise Liner
Image credits: reddit.com
#45 The Difference Between A Trimmed Palm Tree And A Wild Palm Tree
Image credits: bullpendodger
#46 Difference Between Store-Bought, Home-Grown And Wild Strawberries
Image credits: Heretogetaltered
#47 Winter On One Side Of The Road And Fall On The Other
Image credits: DionysianBarber
#48 The Amount Of Dandelions On My Neighbor's Lawn vs. My Lawn (We Get Equal Sun)
Image credits: SinnamxnRoll
#49 Swollen Left Hand After Insect Bite, Compared To Normal Right Hand
Image credits: Robot_Piggy
#50 This Swarovski Crystal Changes Colors Depending On The Type Of Light It's Under
Image credits: controversialangles
#51 Wear Pattern On Stairs Going Up vs. Down
Image credits: flatoutsportsracer
#52 Old vs. New Chocolate Chips
Image credits: ChairsAreIdiots
#53 LEGO Orchid Compared To Real Orchid
Image credits: NightChemical4836
#54 The Size Of The USS Midway Compared To A Man In His Kayak Is Astounding
Image credits: rosseepoo
#55 How Small 1 Gram Of Gold Is (~$75 Melt Value). Coin For Size Comparison
Image credits: CrabbiAbi
#56 Noticed My Pupils Are Two Different Sizes
Image credits: Nerdlifegirl
#57 Sphynx Paw vs. Regular Tabby Paw
Image credits: heyitskitty
#58 The Evolution Of The Disney Chip Mug (Left - 2017, Right - 2024)
Image credits: Thorneymoorwoods
#59 Guess Who Game Comparison. Most Recent Edition And The 1987 Edition
Image credits: I_pinchyou
#60 Coffee Pot Shows Different Levels For Water In vs. Coffee Out
Image credits: KarlZero
#61 Hairless Dog Summer vs. Winter "Coat"
Image credits: Paper_Parasaur
#62 A Nineteenth-Century Guide To How Much You Can Sue For Losing Different Limbs
Image credits: TheSeansei
#63 The Difference In Size Between My Dog’s Legs
Image credits: Breeder27
#64 The Bedding Items I Bought From Two Different Companies Both Have Pictures Of The Same Generic Caucasian Family
Image credits: 2cool4death
#65 The Kid Has A Different Expression In The Older Pamphlet
Image credits: MenOkayThen
#66 Plant's Very First Leaf Compared To The Latest
Image credits: crzydmndx
#67 The Sun Turned Banana Black In 2 Hours Where The Light Hit
Image credits: kiki7865
#68 My Salt Rock Deodorant After Five Years Of Almost Daily Usage vs. A New One
Image credits: Kritisk-Varning
#69 Breast Milk's Color Difference 3 Days Postpartum vs. 8 Weeks Postpartum
Image credits: lfpod
#70 4 Different Sizes Of UNO. Quarters For Scale
Image credits: Gamer_900
#71 25 Years Difference. Both Of These Cost About The Same Price When New
Image credits: h2lp
#72 These Chips Have Different Names But Are The Exact Same
Image credits: alexesparza
#73 Two Identical Handrails With Completely Different Shadows
Image credits: broknsoul
#74 Bought Two Identical Packages Of Frozen Kebab And It's Organized In A Different Pattern
Image credits: BrokenLostAlone
#75 The Color Difference When I Refilled This Grocery Store's Basil With Basil From My Garden
Image credits: NathanielA
#76 These Orange Juices Have Different Levels Of Pulp In Them
Image credits: Prettyplants
#77 My Girlfriend Met A Person At The Bar With The Same, But Inverse Tattoo
Image credits: jeshy1
#78 A 2012 Toyota Hilux vs. A 1988 Toyota Hilux
Image credits: Flames_kid
#79 Regular Wheat Bread vs. Gluten Free Bread
Image credits: mvigs
#80 Prop Money vs. Real Dollar Bill
Image credits: Rigged_Art
#81 Identical Product With A Different Nutri-Score
Image credits: kenm88
#82 One Pound Of Colby Jack vs. One Pound Of Swiss
Image credits: Vexivero
#83 I Bought Some Goat Butter And It’s Completely White. Normal Dairy Butter For Reference
Image credits: oniiichanUwU
#84 All The Vinegar Have Different Amount Of Fluids In Them. Not Opened, Any Signs Of Leaking
Image credits: xsilentone
#85 A 1972 Half-Dollar Compared To A 2022 Half-Dollar
Image credits: Thespiderfighter
#86 The New Company Rulers vs. The Old Ones
Image credits: SomeRealTomfoolery
#87 My Pyrex Dishes From The Same Set, All The Same Size Made In USA Are Different "Colors" Of Glass
Image credits: ErasableHuman
#88 My Yogurts From The Same Brand Have Two Different Spellings Of The Brand Name
Image credits: Successful-Grass-135
