Dealing with Change
“Change is inevitable, and the disruption it causes often brings both inconvenience and opportunity.”
Robert Scoble
Change is happening constantly. It is one of the givens of life. It can be empowering as we take advantage of new opportunities and it can also be scary as we work to adapt and navigate through the it all. While change is outside of our control, we can decide how we deal with it. Our actions have the power to propel us to the new stage of our destiny, slow down or even stop us from moving forward in the direction of our dreams.
Going through change can be daunting. But there are steps we can do to help us navigate this process much easier.
1. Imagine or write down best- and worst-case scenario
Change can be very scary. But most of our fears come because we do not know what will happen next. We are not in control of what is happening. Just think back to when COVID-19 pandemic hit. There was so much unknown. Change was rapidly unfolding. And nobody knew what would come next. A helpful way to relieve our anxiety of the unknown is to imagine or write down different scenarios from the worst to the best outcome. There is some sort of relief to know that we have address the worst that could happen and it is not the only possible outcome.
2. Think about the time when you successfully navigated through change
We have all been able to overcome challenges that change brings. We learnt a new skill. We made new friends. We started a new job and became proficient in what we do. We accomplished a goal we were dreaming of. Everyone has examples of successfully overcoming challenges that change brings. A good way to deal with fear of the unknown is to refer back to those times when we succeeded. And there are sure to be plenty of these examples. Every time we were able to successfully overcome the challenge that change brings is another victory to our name.
3. Focus on what you can control
There is very little if anything that we can control when a major change occurs as we have all seen it in the recent times of global pandemics. But what we can control is our decision and actions to get through these challenges. Whilst understanding that there is very little one can do control outside forces of change, we can decide how we react to it and reap maximum benefits in the process.
4. Accept what is happening
Where there is a major change happening, there is no point in attempting to fight against it. Instead, we should accept that it is happening and find the best way to deal with it. It can be uncomfortable and most likely it will be uneasy. But if we approach it constructively, it can have the power to propel us in the direction of our dreams. There will be another opportunity waiting for you around the corner and it could turn out much better than it otherwise would have been. You will learn and grow and have new opportunities. But you need to be prepared to look at the situation with the new constructive and optimistic lens.
5. Acknowledge and celebrate what works
Usually when we think of word change it is associated with the negative connotations. This is understandable and there is so much unknown and so much outside of our control. We do not know each step ahead. And we cannot control what will come next. But even in the midst of this chaos there are positive things happening. For example, if you do not get the marks you wanted in your exam, you can reflect on what did not work and adopt a new approach to your study. This is not easy and probably not the first steps we would think of. But maybe we needed to have a clearly marked regular time blocks in our schedule devoted to our studies.
6. Take action
It is very important that we are not passive bystanders observing what is happening around us. Sure, there is not much we can control. But we can take action and do what is in our best interests. If you find that the course you are studying is not the right course for you, work out how you can transfer to you preferred course and still get at least some credits from what you have done to date.
7. Manage your stress
Change brings a lot of unknown. It is outside of our control. And it is scary. This fear of unknown and knowing we cannot control what is going on, can significantly elevate our anxiety and stress levels. That is why it is very important that we learn how to effectively deal with and reduce our stress levels. There are different techniques that one can employ such as mindfulness.
8. Seek support
Sometimes dealing with change can be so overwhelming that our thinking gets clouded and we are not able to work out effective solutions. We should not be afraid to seek help where it is available. Seeking help is sign of strength as we understand we want to go and recognize there is someone that can help us get there much quicker and easier that it would otherwise been the case. This can be as simple as getting help from your family and friends. But it can also involve getting a professional help from people qualified to assist you in the process of navigating through a serious issue.
9. Take Advantage of New Opportunities
Change can bring new opportunities that we have not even thought about. We live in a rapidly changing world with a new technology revolutionizing the way we live and work. This can bring an end to whole industries and careers. But it can also bring new opportunities and new careers. Take opportunity if there is a chance for you to upskill to take on a new job. Or maybe there is an option for you to start your own business. Many new businesses have started during pandemic.
10. Think Ahead
Change is rapidly unfolding around us and it will continue. We need to be prepared for the next step so we can capture opportunities presented. Think what you can do to position yourself well for when the next major change comes along, maybe you can learn a new skill so you can easily adapt to the new ways of doing things when the time comes. But also think what worked and what can improve in how you dealt with the latest challenge you faced. There is so much to learn from our experiences.
11. Look for positives
It is hard to think about positives when we are facing major upheavals in our lives. It is natural to feel uncomfortable and uneasy. We need to acknowledge how we feel. But we also need to find the courage to keep moving forward. When one door has closed, another one will open. But we need to be willing to take a first step. As we reflect on this journey, we will see how much we have learnt and grown personally and professionally.
The bottom line is that changes is happening constantly. It is all around us and it mostly outside of our control. We cannot escape it. While change is scary, it can also bring new opportunities that we have not even considered before.