How well do you handle change?

Does it leave you feeling excited and hopeful, or does it create anxiety and overwhelm?

Even the change itself can lead to different emotions and responses.  Changes of an engagement and wedding can be very exciting, but a job change or move may feel very stressful.  

The very definition of change means something different,  or altered.  

But … it also means to replace or substitute for something better.  That we don’t seem to mind as much!

Both change we have chosen, and change that has been forced upon us by circumstances, can be difficult and feel uneasy.  Maybe even it can leave you with feelings of anxiety or fear.

Change you planned may feel easier than change that is forced upon you.  

Whether it is change that excites you or change that you would love to avoid … there are tips that can help you navigate and handle change with clarity of choice, and confidence.

Here are 4 tips you can apply to changes in your life:

Be clear on what is most important to you and why.  I believe that the clearer you are on where you have come from, as well as where you want to go, the easier change will be.  Much of the anxiety or overwhelm of change is due to the unknown, or anxiety of what is next.  New jobs can bring some uncomfortable feelings of change when you think of meeting new people and having a new role in a new surrounding.  A new house can bring new neighbours, new relationships, and a feeling of new surroundings. But … when you have the clarity of your core values and passions, the change can bring opportunity to live those out authenticity, and that can be exciting and give a feeling of purpose and alignment with your why.  Why you are changing and what it brings will change from unknown to the knowing of purpose. 

Have a strong community to support you.  I am sure you have heard the saying, “We were never made to do life alone”.  We are designed for community. One of the key tips to handling change well is to have a group of people close to you that can help navigate your journey.  Those who are not in the middle of the change we are walking through can see things from a different context and perspective that will give us a very important element of support.  Community helps us see things differently, hear things differently, and gives us a sounding board and mindset shift.  I am sure you have walked away from a conversation with someone at some point in your life where you thought, “I really needed that!”.  If you haven’t … find your someone that you can find that with.  Women particularly often work through things by talking it out … and when we have someone we can journey with we are able to find the clarity that helps us move forward with confidence.

Use the word “how”.  The word “how” is one of the most inspirational and motivating words I know.  Next time you are questioning what your next step is, and you start to feel like it isn’t possible … try changing your language from “I can’t” or “I don’t know”, to “how can I?”.  One simple word, but it changes how you approach it.  Our perspective and mindset shifts to, “what can I do?”  Instead of feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure, you approach it from open opportunity, capability, and leader mindset.  Instead of “can’t”, you get to choose.  You also learn that you can, which then builds your confidence as you move forward.

Work on the perspective and mindset.   Our perspective and mindset is how we as individuals see the world around us and then choose to believe what we see.  It is not based on reality, but on our past and what we have carried forward. The great news is that we can change it.  This is one change we have 100% control over, yet we so easily live as if we don’t have any control over it.  We do not have to believe what we first see and believe, we can rethink it and position ourselves to first find what is accurate and then walk in that. This is one area that community can be so important.  Others can so often hear the untruth in what we say and we can check our beliefs with what they hear, and see.  How many times has someone said to you, “that’s not true!” when you have said something negative about yourself?  They may have commented to you that they see something positive in you and you have argued them on it … yup, we do that all the time don’t we?   But the best perspective and  mindset change in the midst a difficult season?  Humour!  They say humour is the best medicine and I can honestly say it is one of the most powerful things that pulled me through a very difficult season and kept me going.  It changes the perspective and gives you an emotional freedom and release to see things differently.  There is nothing better than one of those good hard laughs where you are not making a sound but are crying with laughter.  So many times I have said after, “boy, I needed that!”.  Give it a try and see if you don’t feel like you can move forward after.

Change is inevitable.  

We can’t change that it will come, but we sure can change how we respond to it.

We can journey through with clarity and confidence, knowing that we will get through, even if we are unsure of what it will look like.

Practice these 4 tips and they will help you navigate times of change and help you show up as your best of change.

They can help move you from overwhelm and uncertainty, to excitement and anticipation of where you are going and who you are becoming.  

Be the change you want to see in the world ~ Mahatma Gandhi