Change is part of our lives, and almost everyone can handle changes that are positive and happy. But what about those changes that shake up our balance? Changes that are out of our control….those are not so easy to manage, and bring with them feelings of helplessness, fear, the risky unknown. All the “what if’s” pop up: What if I make the wrong choice? What if I fail? What if it’s the last chance I get?
We all have developed coping mechanisms to deal with change. Some common ones are:
- Deny that anything is changing and try too hard to keep everything the same as it was. That takes a lot of energy and usually doesn’t last too long
- Duck and run to avoid the change. This usually doesn’t work well either
- Get depressed and wait for someone else to figure out a plan
What would it feel like to be open to change? Being open to unexpected and unplanned experiences are often seeds of amazing opportunities in your life. If we can learn to view change from a different perspective, we can use our budding creativity to visualize ways to problem-solve and move through changes in a positive direction.
It takes courage to hang in mid-air between the known and what is yet to be. And if you add trust, optimism, and belief that the right pathway will open up when you need it, then you’ve got a good start on managing and adapting to change in a way that is self-affirming and builds self-confidence. For a deeper dive into managing change and challenge, be sure to read chapter six of our book and try the creative activities that we designed for you.
Ask Yourself:
What roles in my life are changing? How am I dealing with those changes and feelings?
What was the biggest change in my life over the last year? How did I manage that time?
Make a change in something small today and compliment yourself for trying! Suzanne & Patty