By: Kristi Spargo
Change is big. Change is hard. Change is necessary. There are some people that seek change and in fact thrive on the invigorating adrenaline rush that a new direction provides. There are many more people that are fearful of disruptions to their everyday routine and dread being faced with the ubiquitous fork in the road. Yet in order to truly maximize both your personal and professional life it’s critical to learn how to embrace and incorporate change; as it will happen whether you want it to or not. As 2016 gets underway, take the opportunity to prepare for whatever changes might be ahead.
Baby Steps
As a baby learns to walk, they first ensure their balance and the stability of the ground beneath them. And then they take a leap of faith and stick one pudgy foot out into the unknown. Adults need to approach change with the same attitude. Don’t think about change as a marathon suddenly forced upon you. Change is a chance to make life better even if at first glance it is unwelcome. Gather your confidence that you can do it and just take one small step forward to figuring it out.
Deep Breaths
When change comes into our lives, especially if it’s significant or unexpected, the initial reaction is to panic. Thoughts and fears begin to flood your mind and your gut reaction might be to run as far as possible in the opposite direction. Yet efforts to deny this new reality are unproductive. Taking deep breaths whenever high-strung emotions hit not only helps to calm your physical being but is also a mental cleansing and release. Once your mind and body are prepared to face change then that is when true acceptance begins.
No Fear
After gathering your confidence and preparing yourself for whatever the future might hold, the time has come to commit to your new path and just move forward. Fear will only hamper and hide from your view the options and opportunities that change can bring. Yes, it will still be scary to forge into the unknown but try to perceive it instead as the beginning of a new and better way of living. Make it a point to be open and honest with yourself as to what you could have done differently last year and then make a plan on how to accomplish it this year.
