Lessons On Personal Development: #6 Dealing With Change
Embracing change implies that you don’t see change as adversity, but an opportunity to improve yourself or try new things.
When confronted with a new shift in my life, I have spent a lot of time thinking about a few questions: How can we control the change when we have the ability to do so? How can we adjust to changes that are beyond our control? Finally, how can we take care of ourselves during the difficult process of change adaptation?
I have established a highly productive attitude to change through time, and I have seen many other people reach the same point, so I will share a few ideas with you to help plant the seed of your new and improved view on CHANGE.
„When we are no longer able to change a situation — we are challenged to change ourselves.“
Back in time, in the savannah, a sudden change could have meant a lion coming close to you. Although there’s a 99% probability it was simply the wind, it was better to anticipate the worst just in case it was a life-or-death situation. That is why, despite the fact that most change isn’t life-threatening, we often respond as if it is. We were stressed and anxious, ready to “fight or flight,” and we didn’t always take the time to rationally assess the issue.
New situations may be stressful in both business and life. Change is naturally uncomfortable, whether it’s dealing with a new supervisor at work or a loved one who appears to be acting strangely. Much of it is due to the fact that we share the DNA of individuals who fled the savannah in search of a better life, and your brain is still hard-wired to be suspicious of change. How can we reduce the negative effect of our natural change aversion?
1. Know WHAT You Are Coping With
Identifying what is going on is the first step in dealing with change. Too frequently, we just feel worried or nervous in general, rather than focusing on the underlying issue. So the first step is straightforward: identify the problem and acknowledge your emotional response to it. Things might get a lot simpler to deal with if you’re fully aware of what you are up against.
2. Take Control If You Can
Change may be divided into two categories: things you can control and those you can’t. Unfortunately, we have little influence over the present pandemic, and we are the ones who must adjust to a new way of life. But, aside from that, there are lots of situations over which we have influence. For example, let’s say the relationship with one of your friends is on the rocks. You don’t just have to accept that you are destined to go separate ways — instead, you may have a meaningful and honest dialogue, work out your differences, and decide to make intentional attempts to stay in each other’s life.
3. Accept What You Can’t Control
What if you’re fantastic at your work, but your employer hires someone on your team who is even brighter and more talented than you? A natural reaction would be to rail against the change, claiming that it’s unfair and that your work should be appreciated more because you’ve been with the company for longer. This way you will even end up hating that poor person. It’s a natural reaction, but not an effective one. The company has made its decision that bringing this individual on board was a wise investment, and it is unlikely to reverse its opinion regardless of what you do or say. Accepting the new reality and figuring out how to truly respect, work with, and learn from this person is the best thing you can do.
4. Take Good Care of Yourself
Dealing with change in the job and at home may be challenging and tiring, so be kind to yourself. You need to prioritize self-care while finding out how to adjust to change and making strategies to survive and flourish in the new environment. There are plenty of ways of nurturing yourself such as exercising, eating healthy food, getting plenty of sleep, adopting new hobbies, and taking refreshing vacations by changing your life scenery. Choose what suits you the best according to your prior experience and make sure to approach new things with ease and a mindful perspective.
„Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge.“
How do you deal with change most effectively? Not by fighting it, but by taking advantage of the new opportunities it creates. Think about the internet. It caused huge turbulences in nearly every conventional industry, causing the demise or extinction of long-standing business structures, but many businesses changed, moved online, and flourished to unimaginable heights!
Life will continue to change whether we like it or not, so my suggestion to you is to accept it and begin to see it as an opportunity portal. That way, you will be able to cope with it better and better each time it arises.
Until next time!
