HOW TO HANDLE CHANGE

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Change is inevitable. It occurs whether we ask for it or not, whether we want it or not. It affects us by moving us out of our comfort zone. Change we ask for has its surprises and change thrust upon us is more difficult to handle. It disrupts our lives, cause us stress, and slows our momentum. See Coping With Stress.

In 1970, Alvin Toffler said in "Future Shock" that "too much change in too short of time" brought on a condition from too many changes. These changes were taking place so rapidly that people could no longer adapt to them.

An immediate reaction is natural. Remember that whatever we react to controls us. We doubt that we can handle a new situation. Change is scary when we don't know how it will affect us. This causes stress and burnout. We escape by filling our lives with busy work. We don't have time to deal with the changes. The sooner we get past the reaction stage and into the responding stage, the sooner we take back control of our lives. Sometimes, we don't need a plan to handle the change. We merely need to accept the change and go from there.

DISC PERSONALITIES AND CHANGE
Different personalities handle change differently. See Personality Quiz. A Direct person is confident by nature, therefore he is more flexible with a change in circumstances, but he is less flexible with people. A Direct person reacts by trying to control any changes and when he can't; he avoids the situation. When all else fails, he begins to consider how the adjustment will help him move forward.

An Influential person is also confident, and more flexible. He accepts people without question. He naturally goes with the flow. If the Influential person is uncomfortable with the change, he ignores it.

A Steady person is afraid of change. He is more accepting of change in people than circumstances. A Steady person does no't accept any change that takes him out of his comfort zone. He says he does. He wants to, but he doesn't. This person doesn't trust himself to manage the change. He feels like a victim. Change is something done to him. A Steady person may accept the change when he has a plan of action with which he is comfortable. This person usually needs someone else to create the plan.

A Cautious person is inflexible and fights change. He is easily overwhelmed by the change. This person loves consistency and his initial reaction is to argue with anyone or anything that might ask him to handle change. He doesn't believe he can cope with it. The Cautious person obsesses over the change and looks for a way out. Eventually, he creates a plan and follows it.

There are several characteristics that help a person adapt to change. Personality style plays a role in most of them, but is not the only answer. The more confident a person is, the more flexible he is. You can improve flexibility by working at improving your confidence. See Book "Untying the Knots of Life"

DO

•   Realize that your mind and emotions need time to adjust to the change.
•   Stay calm and unemotional. Push away all the fears and negative mind chatter.
•   Look at the situation objectively. Consider the change as an opportunity.
•   Be willing to accept the situation and move on.
•   Look at your goals. Consider how the change will affect your goals. Ask yourself how this new situation will improve your chances to meet your goals? See Book "Untying the Knots of Life" This will calm your mind and create positive thinking. You are beginning to take control of your life. You are moving forward instead of living in the past.
•   Form an action plan. Notice how good you feel about the change now that you have started to take charge of your life. You are overcoming a difficulty. You are developing confidence.
•   Recognize that your plans may not go as well as you hoped. Be prepared for more changes and setbacks.

DON'T

•   Whine or complain.
•   Expect the change to go away. Yesterday is over. Accept it.
•   Anticipate a problem.
•   Refuse to change.
•   Ignore the situation. It won't go away.

TIPS

•   Appreciate a challenge. Look at past situations when you handled changes and the positive outcomes.
•   Be optimistic.
•   Look at the situation objectively. Recognize the fear and deal with it.
•   Have a willingness to move out of your comfort zone.
•   Use or develop coping skills. That includes a sense of humor and a spirit of fun
•   Live a balanced life. Have interests beyond the area of change to which you can escape.
•   You are in charge. Draw on your creativity to help you see the advantages and opportunities of change. You will feel that the change is no longer controlling you.
•   Have friends with whom you can talk things over.

KEEPING YOUR BALANCE

•   Organize your surroundings. Removing chaos in your physical surroundings helps remove chaos in your thinking.
•   Do the everyday things first like making your bed or brush your teeth. Get back to your normal routine as quickly as possible. There is stability in mundane activity that requires little thinking and no decision-making. This frees your mind to work on the situation.
•   Keep yourself healthy. Get the right amount of sleep and eat healthy food. Exercise helps.
•   Find someone to talk to such as a life strategist, someone who can listen and give objective solutions.
•   Take a break. Relax and think about nothing important. Put a time limit on the break.
•   Live in the moment
•   Be willing to learn new things. Be teachable.
•   Be willing to ask for help.
•   Have faith in yourself, your friends and God.

© Copyright Echod Enterprise 2007

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