Embracing Change
You’ve probably heard many of these statements or variations of them…
The only way to grow is to change.
If you want something you never had, you have to do something you never did.
“It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform.”― Roy T. Bennett
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”― Barack Obama
Though we hear them and understand the statements, it’s often still scary when you go through change, even if it’s a change that you initiated - a new home, a new job, a new relationship, etc. When the change was not initiated by you - a job loss, an end to a relationship, a change in health or financial well-being, etc., it’s even harder to get excited about what that change may mean for you. However, all change does help us grow, even if it takes a bit of time to see the benefits reaped through the change. We cannot always pick when change comes, but we can pick how we react to it. Do we dread it or get excited by the opportunity?
There are many variations of the change curves, but the common themes take us through shock/denial, anger/fear, acceptance, and commitment. Obviously, if the change was initiated by you and is viewed positively, the first step and maybe the second may not happen or will be very short. However, we have to realize that any change will bring a myriad of emotions over a period of time. We need to be ready to work through our reactions so that we can quickly get to acceptance and commitment since this is where we start realizing the benefits of what is happening.
In my case, I’ve recently taken the second leap of faith in my career, going with where my heart tells me to go vs. playing it safe and sticking with a great corporate leadership position. So…I’ve chosen this, but it’s still scary as I’m trying something I’ve never done before…building a business. From day to day and week to week, I go forward and sometimes take a step backward on the change curve when I start to really think about the leap I’ve taken and all of the hard work ahead of me. However, this is where my strengths of Achiever, Command, Significance, Responsibility, and Activator come in. I’ve got my plan of how I’m going to build this business, and I’m staying focused on the steps to greatness in this next endeavor.
If you’re contemplating a change in your personal or professional life or one has happened to you…
Embrace the change as an opportunity for personal growth
Explore the positives of the change….what are you learning?
Contemplate what steps you’ll need to take to mitigate any of the “down-sides." Who will you need to be to get through this change in the most positive frame of mind/which of your strengths do you need to bring to the table?
What actions can you take to move forward? Remember, it doesn't have to be a leap...just a step.
Surround yourself with a support network to pick you up on the tough days and to celebrate your successes, no matter how small.
Focus on your personal health and wellness. All stress (even positive) is stress, and so our bodies react to that. Get plenty of sleep, drink your water, make healthy eating choices, and take time out to re-energize.
I like this quote because of its direct statement that we must actively choose the changes if we want to grow: "One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again." - Abraham Maslow.
These changes don’t have to be big ones each time, but make sure you are stepping out into new territory so that you can grow. What change have you been contemplating? Is it time to take the first step?