Things Change
Life is full of changes. When you least expect them. And those changes test your capacity to venture into something new. How would your life be different if you never experienced change? What would be missing? What kind of nonstop loop would you be stuck in?
People tell me all the time that they do not like change. And yet, as the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, stated, “change is the only constant in life.” We all know that change is inevitable. So, why is there so much resistant to it? It’s kind of a love-hate notion. When things are not going so well…we welcome change. And when life seems to be as good as it gets…we want things to stay just as they are.
Humans are creatures of habit. As much as you think you want something to be different, you fear it. How often have you heard others complain about the same problems, the same people, or the same situation, and wonder why they can’t seem to break free from the patterns?
WHY WE FEAR CHANGE
The unknown feels risky
You cannot control uncertainty
You fear failure
You do not believe you can withstand the judgment of others
You expect to feel awkward, embarrassed or inadequate
You fear losing control
You lack the motivation or energy to work hard/learn something new
You listen to others’ voices & opinions over your own
Change can feel like loss – the loss of life as you know it
The anticipation of change is often worse than the actual change. What are you REALLY afraid of? Is it truly as bad as you think it might be? Can you survive it? Ironically, what people call ‘staying in the comfort zone’, rarely involves sustained comfort. Things eventually get pretty uncomfortable.
CHALLENGE YOUR STATUS QUO
Step away from other’s voices so you can hear your own -pay attention to what you value, what you are passionate about, what motivates you.
Ask yourself, “how is my resistance to change benefitting me?”
Instead of hiding from potential mistakes or failure, get excited to grow from them. Look forward to finding out what the lesson is.
Build on successful experiences that result from changes.
Allow yourself to be curious – what good might come from the change?
Challenge yourself to be open & flexible – what’s the worst that can happen?
See changes as opportunities and motivate yourself to learn something new every day.
What are you ready to change? Reach out to someone you trust and get the support you need to make the leap. It doesn’t have to be grand. Start small, explore the possibilities. Embrace change.