There are a lot of people who don’t handle change well. As long as things are going along as planned, they’re fine; but the moment something shifts, they’re thrown out of whack. Whether it’s a change to a process or procedure at work, a change of plans in their personal life, or even something like a pop quiz in school when they were looking forward to a regular day of learning. These alterations or modifications, which are often subtle or minor, are very major to the person unable to deal with change. They often trigger anxiety, stress, and even anger.
So how do we change that? (No pun intended)
How do we avoid mental breakdowns or emotional meltdowns when change happens?
- Try to think big picture! Often times the minor or subtle change is a part of a big picture, that we can’t see. When we focus on more than just that change, we have an opportunity to see that it was needed and even an improvement.
- Be fearless! One of the things that underlie our reluctance to change is fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of the new thing introduced, and even fear of failure. When you work to face your fears heads on, change becomes easier to process.
- Adopt the serenity prayer! When you only focus on things you can change, your anxiety about things changing around you will decrease. Essentially, you’ll realize that it’s much easier to go with the flow and it’s also less taxing on you mentally and physically.
Change is not easy for many. There are times where even I struggle with something being “out of order”. During those times, I have to take a step back and first think “who’s order?” If it’s just out of my order, then I have to focus on the big picture and realize it’s not just about me.
This is just a small list of things to help you process and even accept change. It’s important to remember that change happens. It’s inevitable and it’s not always bad. The more equipped and prepared you are to deal with it, the better off you’ll be.