Be Responsive To Change
Change is an unavoidable constant in our lives. Sometimes portions of the change that happens is controllable, but often it is not. In the workplace our job roles change, processes change, or systems change. In life, circumstances change, our environment around us changes. We are forced to see things differently, do things differently and adjust and adapt to changes as they occur.
Research has shown that those who are happiest in old age are the ones who have dealt most successfully with the changes in their lives. Learning to accept and adapt to change is the skill of the lifetime. And because there is never a shortage of changes for us to face, we should have plenty of opportunities to practice our adaptive skills and even get proficient with them.
We have already faced so many changes in our lives. In this year alone, think of all the things we have had to endure and adapt to. Which changes have I handled well? And what can I learn from these experiences to help me deal with change in the future? When we take the time to reflect and review how we handled a situation, good or bad, we can recognize ways we can adjust to future change and or know what we should do differently.
There are also other things we can do to help us to not only adapt easier, but to take advantage of change as it occurs.
Don't take things so seriously. Now I'm not talking about brushing things off as non-important, or acting recklessly or putting yourself in dangerous situations. I'm saying try to lighten the mood, not only for yourself, but for those around you. Finding humor in the situation is a good way to create levity in a situation while still trying to come up with a solution. This could help you see things from a different perspective. It will help the others around you adapt as well.
Focus on the problem itself, not the feelings you are getting as a result of the problem. Sometimes when we lament and focus on our frustrations, fear or anger towards something, it actually creates more frustrations, fear or anger. I do believe there is a time and place to talk about those things as well, because that helps your ability to cope in a different way, to be able to get those feelings off your chest. But when you are truly trying to solve the problem itself, zero in on the problem itself. Try to think of practical solutions about what you can do next. This can help you compartmentalize it and break it down into solvable pieces. How can you handle this one step at a time?
Try not to compound your stress about the situation. In other words, don't stress out about stressing out. Understanding stress, and the affects and role stress plays is very important. What we believe about stress matters. Understand that stress can be both good and bad for us, depending on how we understand it, and what we believe about it. It can literally kill you, cause health problems, or create bigger problems. Or, it can motivate you, it can carry you through, it can prompt you to take actions, and help you to become stronger. It's our perceptions of stress that can help us use it to our advantage. Stress can be a good thing if we choose to see it that way.
Try to approach everything with a purpose, and on purpose. First, ask yourself 'why'. Why do you do what you do? Why do you do things the way that you do? What is the meaning and feeling it gives you? Why does it drive you to do something? What is its purpose? What is your 'why'? Then, try to figure how to act 'on purpose', or intentionally. There is a difference in having good intentions, to taking action intentionally.
Focus in on the present. Learn from the past. Be inspired for the future. But focus in on the now. The only time you can truly take action on something is happening right now in the moment. You can make a difference now. Accept the fact that change happens and learn that you can choose to do something about it now. You have the power to decide, and the power to act. It's not what happens to you that makes the difference, it's how you respond, and what you decide to do about it that makes the difference.
Learn to expect the unexpected. The only constant is change, and we know that. If we know that change will happen, we can position ourselves to be more prepared for it when it does. By learning to master our ability to adapt to it can actually lead to a happier and more fulfilled life. Control what you can control. Those are your thoughts, your beliefs, your responses, your decisions and your actions. Choose to make a difference.
Make today great!
Curtis
"If you want to change your results, don't focus on changing your behaviors. Change your focus to the beliefs that drive your behaviors." - John Assaraf
Comments
Post a Comment