Embrace Change: 18 Great Ways To Roll With It

Hello,


"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them, that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like."
- Lao Tzu


The key to embracing change begins by accepting that life is change and there is really no way to stop it from happening in our lives. Change is the most natural thing in life. It happens to all of us, all the time. When we allow ourselves to face up to change, we generally come out the other side wiser and stronger. On the other hand, when we fight and resist change, we are only inviting suffering. You probably already know this, but I'll say it anyway: Resistance is the surest path to further discomfort and unhappiness. Stop holding on tightly to people, places and things. Letting go does not mean we don't care about what happens, but rather accepting that life doesn't stay the same. Nothing in life ever stays the same. Sudden abrupt shifts in life are unavoidable. There are no guarantees that what is here today will be the same or even there tomorrow. Our best recourse is to face up to the fact that life is a constant flow of change. If we truly believe this then we will be less thrown off by changing circumstances around us.

No doubt that change can be one of the most difficult of life's challenges. It is not always an easy road for us to take, but this much I know: We have the capacity to adapt to change and doing so is a sign of emotional health. Life is made up of ups and downs and we can learn to live with both. As a therapist, I get to see this in action through my clients who show resilience in handling whatever troubles come their way. They may be hesitant to act, but what stands out is their bravery in acknowledging their fears, doubts and struggles with change. It is their openness and sense of vulnerability that I believe enables them to slowly but steadily move with change and roll with it. As I see it, the more willing we are to express our true emotions about what we're feeling in relation to the change itself, the more able we are to learn from the experience, see the positive and keep facing toward change.

The reality is life changes in unpredictable ways. Without any warning things will happen that we have no control over. We may find ourselves dealing with life circumstances that are not to our liking or to our understanding, but we must remember that even if we can't control what happens around us, we still get to decide what we're going to do about it. Yes, we decide how we react to what changes. Our interpretation of change and how we respond to it is up to us. We can feel like a victim of change or we can take charge and do whatever we can to either change the situation or change the way we think about it. It is important to believe and trust that you can roll with change without breaking or falling apart. If you've done it before, you can do it again.

We must strive to embrace change and here's why: All growth requires change. When we are not willing to roll with it and choose instead to stay safe within our comfort zones, we become stagnant and life can become quite small and narrow. Ultimately, embracing change is what helps us get what we want to have in life-whether it is a loving relationship, stability, health, peace of mind, or just feeling good about ourselves. As you navigate change, keep this mind: Life moves forward and so should we.

Eighteen great ways to roll with change:

1-Learn to be okay with the initial discomfort of change. What feels good today will pass and the same holds true for what feels bad: It too will pass. Most things don't last long whether good or bad.

2-Change is part of life, not an interruption of it. Consider a shift in perspective. Remember, if you change the way you think, you change the way you feel.

3-Outward appearances can be deceiving. Some changes may appear negative on the surface but in actuality are a blessing in disguise. Roll with it and see.

4-Release your need for control. You cannot control everything that happens in your life, no matter how hard you try. Life is full of unknowns; accept this fact and you'll be less stressed.

5-Focus on what you stand to gain and not on what you are losing. We get stuck when dealing with change because our thoughts are primarily on loss. Ask yourself, "What good could come from this situation?" View change as a chance to grow and as an opportunity rather than an obstacle.

6-Focus your attention on the here and now. See everything as it is- not as it was or could be. Stop longing for things to be other than what they are. Staying in the present is one of the best ways I know to embrace change. Make decisions based on what is happening right now and use the present reality to move forward in your life. 

7-Give yourself time to get use to the change. What starts out new will become old and familiar soon enough. Once you adapt, you may discover it was the best thing that ever happened. Trust and believe that you will find your way in the midst of change.

8-Put one foot in front of the other. Keep moving! Taking some form of positive action is the best defense against panic, fear, and anxiety as it relates to change.

9-Focus on what you can control and let go of the rest. Don't try to change what can't be changed. It's a waste of time.

10-Know that the main barrier to embracing change is FEAR. Do your best to work through your fear of failure, loss, abandonment, not getting what you need and losing what you have. While these fears are quite common, the truth of the matter is that what we are afraid of is never as bad as what we imagine. Don't let fears keep you from doing what you want to do. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

11-Get a handle on fear. Most of our fears are irrational and serve to keep us from changing when we need to. The best way to push fear into the background is by living in the present. Fear takes center stage in our mind when we live in the future and our thoughts are about the "what-ifs." So remember, fear or its cousins- anxiety, worry, or nervousness are likely to take hold of us when we are not living in the moment.

12-Stay open minded. Don't over analyze the situation and just get going! See change as a time to reassess yourself, life and your priorities. Seek to understand but don't get stuck asking yourself, "Why?"

13-When things change around us, see it as a sign that maybe it's time for us to change as well and do things differently. You can't make progress without change.

14-Anticipate change. Read the handwriting on the wall. Stay alert to signs of it and prepare as best you can for its arrival.

15-Don't forget your sense of humor. It helps to laugh at life's foibles as well as our own when we are facing up to change. Laughter helps us to let go and move on.

16-Take comfort in your routines. They help us stay sane as we go through change. Doing the things you love will carry you when you need it most.

17-Practice change in small ways and you will be better prepared in handling the big things when they strike.

18-Talk, feel and stay in action. Most importantly, turn to those you trust and love and you won't feel as alone. Leaning on others for encouragement and support can get you to embrace change a lot quicker.

Concluding thoughts:

The best way to roll with change is by learning to embrace it. Unending change is the way of life and is non-negotiable. So we might as well get better at it. Expect situations to continuously change, they always do. But remember, you get to decide whether you'll grow from them or let it affect you negatively. After all, you are in charge of your response. In fact, the only thing you have control of is yourself.
As you come face to face with change, remember that embracing it can make you stronger, build self-confidence, and give you a new lease on life. I hope you choose to go for it!
Accept what comes and meet it with courage, honesty, and commitment to make the best of your life.

May you embrace change and roll with it for peace sake!!!