An Education On Thriving In Change

Prioritising the education that you never received, to embrace the challenges you will always face.

You don’t like change, it’s a part of your very nature.

You see the status quo as desirable and any change from that baseline as a great loss. Preferring things to stay the way they are, you like what you already have over what you could have. Thinking to yourself, “Well I’ve gotten this far doing it this way, surely it’s good enough then?”. You don’t like change because your brain views it as undesirable, uncomfortable and scary.

Be kind to yourself though, it’s not as if it’s your fault.

Considering the fact that things are changing quite a lot and quite often these days, surely educating yourself on how to thrive amongst change should be a priority?

Considering the fact that “the only thing that is constant is change”, and that “when you’re finished changing, then you’re finished”, surely educating others on how to thrive amongst change should be a priority?

Referring to some of the knowledge that is out there on the matter, here is a brief list to help you or a friend build a better relationship with change. Hope it helps…

“To experience peace does not mean that your life is always blissful. It means that you are capable of tapping into a blissful state of mind amidst the normal chaos of a hectic life.”

Take care of your basic needs, start with the fundamentals. Eat well, exercise regularly, take time for relaxation, sleep enough. It’s like regularly changing the oil and water of your car, small acts that make a big difference.

“A problem shared is a problem halved.”

When things get tough it can seem like hiding from humanity is the best option. Even though there is a time and a place for this, make sure to have individuals or groups that can support, and be supported by, you.

Doing so allows you to talk to others who are going through the same changes as you, it reminds you that you’re not alone and will always help to put your situation into perspective.

“The mind is like water, when it is turbulent it is difficult to see. When it’s calm, everything becomes clear.”

The ability to be truly mindful of the quantity and quality of your moods and thoughts, as well as be fully aware of how external influences are affecting you, are fundamental skills in navigating change in the way that best suits your personality. There are numerous practices available to do so including Meditation, Journaling, Mental Mantras or even long walks in the park.

Take time out to hear yourself, silence can be a delightful place where answers are found and optimism rejuvenated.

Whenever it appears that changes are fast and furious and you have no idea what to do about them, ask yourself, “How do you eat an elephant?”

… “One bite at a time!”

Not only Neil Armstrong understood the importance of small steps. Anxiety over change is grounded in the belief that you will not be able to cope with the change, that it’ll topple you over and defeat you.

Develop routines that help you to get started on chomping away at making external changes work for you, or to at least not be at the mercy of those changes. Remember to keep your expectations in check, you can’t eat an elephant in one meal.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.”

The quote above, commonly used by Alcoholics Anonymous and similar organizations, provides a strong base for dealing with whatever life throws at you. Perspective, focusing your efforts strategically on that which you can control, is not only a smart allocation of your resources but also a means of living a happier life.

Attempting to control that which cannot be controlled, will make you angry and bitter to the world.

“Named must your fear be before banish it you can.”

Here’s how it works:

1. Define a bad thing that can happen as a result of your decision.

2. Write down what action you can take to prevent that bad thing from happening in the first place.

3. Lastly, determine what you can to do repair the situation if that bad thing happens anyway.

“There is no good or bad without us, there is only perception. There is the event itself and the story we tell ourselves about what it means.”

Perception: “It’s how we see and understand what occurs around us — and what we decide those events will mean. Our perceptions can be a source of strength or of great weakness…”

Action: “Action is commonplace, right action is not. As a discipline, it’s not any kind of action that will do, but directed action…”

Will: “Will is our internal power, which can never be affected by the outside world. It is our final trump card. If action is what we do when we still have some agency over our situation, the will is what we depend on when agency has all but disappeared…”

If you liked what you just read please show some love and click on the heart below, I’d really appreciate it. Thank you for reading, you can also follow me if you’d like to be notified when I publish new articles in the future.

Much love,

Daniel

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