Life is a journey of constant evolution, and change is an inevitable companion along this path. Many individuals find comfort in routine and familiarity, often fearing the unknown that change brings.
However, embracing change can lead to personal growth, innovation, and unexpected opportunities that enrich our lives in ways we never imagined.
One day, at one of my speaking engagements, a young lady walked up to me during the tea break to ask a rather interesting question. “Why does life never remain the same?” It was a rather intense and peculiar question to ask; very random and out of context if you ask me. I was unable to give a detailed response as we were both pressed for time.
As I sat down to write my submission for the column this week, her question popped up in my head. So, here is a detailed response to this deep question. Notice that I used the word response, because the fact of the matter is that there is no correct answer to such a question – just a series of possible answers that will help us to make sense of why life changes so often.
Change is an inevitable part of life! We encounter complex challenges and small problems, sometimes in large quantities at a time and sometimes in sporadic small quantities. What truly matters is not why life changes so much. Really, it is our response when the unexpected occurs.
What is within us that needs more shaping, or that has been fully developed to help us navigate the turbulent waves of life? If we can fully embrace life, the good and the bad that it has to offer, we can transform our lives in unexpected ways. We experience life changes in personal and professional dimensions.
In this article, I will speak on both themes. I believe in being present, and sometimes a life change in our personal life can impact our behavior in our professional environment. Besides, we remain the same person despite showing up in two different environments.
Most people are scared of change. A single event that takes an unexpected turn can throw a person off their game so easily. As humans, we like to be comfortable. It is expressed in our love for routines.
Why rattle the cage and do something unexpected? The thought of change brings up fear in people because change takes them out of their comfort zones. Although a life without change sounds peaceful and comfortable, a life that embraces change and continuous learning finds more meaning.
Here are the five reasons why people resist change:
- Fear of being different
People are creatures of habit who love routines. When there’s no precedent, some may struggle to envision the outcome of change.
- Feeling overwhelmed or stressed
Fatigue from previous upheavals can make people resist change. Tiredness often leads to crankiness and irritability.
- Fear of departing from the status quo
Change means leaving behind “the way it’s always been done.” Those invested in the old way may become defensive. Top-down changes can make people uncomfortable or feel betrayed.
- Lack of trust in change leaders
Respect for leaders comes from trust built over time. New leaders must work to build trust, or mistrust and resistance to change will follow.
- Awareness of new possibilities and problems
Many prefer the familiar over the unknown. People instinctively know change brings both opportunities and challenges, but often choose to avoid both.
To succeed in life and work, embracing risk is necessary for innovation. Taking risks means acknowledging limitations while finding ways to overcome them. It requires a clear vision and the ability to think beyond conventional boundaries. This approach to change, bridging caution and risk-taking, allows for growth and breakthrough innovations.
In the Huffpost, Elisa Grandizio writes about how change could be beneficial. She recommends that people experiencing a time or period of change must possess sufficient energy to absorb and incorporate new behaviors and accompanying mindsets. The capacity necessary to absorb the disruption is known as resilience.
Resilience is the ability of an individual or a system to deal with change and continue to develop. When stressed, resilient people and organizations often bounce back stronger instead of being hindered by their own inability to change. Resiliency is characterized by:
Focus: the ability to concentrate and put forth positive effort.
Flexibility: the ability to be open to new approaches and ways of dealing with the situation at hand.
Proactive Approach: the ability to foster a climate that offers opportunities to learn and improve.
If change is an inevitable occurrence in our lives, we might as well brace ourselves with preparedness to make the most out of it. Here are 4 keys to embrace change strategically:
- Take care of yourself.
Senior Forbes contributor, Bernhard Schroeder, makes a profound recommendation to take care of ourselves. “Sometimes change can come as a shock or something that just disturbs our routine. It’s okay for you to be a little selfish and take care of yourself in these moments. That could mean taking a day off and doing little things that make you happy. Maybe it’s indulging in a favorite meal or taking a drive to a relaxing place. You own your happiness so take the time to adjust to the change that is happening by taking care of yourself.”
- Take up the challenge and show up with energy.
When taking up challenging tasks, you are faced with both physical and emotional risks but remember that there is no way to avoid those hazards. Do not be afraid to venture into the unknown. One of the key steps to take on the journey of high performance is to position yourself in challenging situations. Show up with enough energy to cause not only a stirring but also a movement.
There is no way to avoid the glitches and problems that come with starting a movement so do it anyway and with all the energy you can muster. Consequently, be flexible enough while also being ready to continually innovate and explore new ideas. You can and should intentionally get comfortable with being uncomfortable and mentally push beyond your regular thinking spaces.
- Tap into your community
For any journey you are on, it is essential to have access to people who have achieved whatever goal you want to achieve to mentor you and guide you. When you have such people, they are likely to push you and encourage you not to give up in the face of adversity. Surround yourself with people who strive for progress and who press to be a better version of themselves in everything they do. This way, you will be reminded daily of purpose and stay awake to do what needs to be done.
- Don’t just sit there, evolve.
C.S. Lewis once described humans and our behaviors like an egg. “You cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg,” he said. “You must be hatched, or go bad.” So how do you evolve? Quietly, doggedly, simply. Little things become big things. Improving 1% in one area every day will become a 3700% increase in just one year!
This is how you become a better version of yourself every day by continually developing your life. Achieving the life of your dreams and experiencing continuous personal evolution means commitment to the long game. You become the person you want to be not by enormous lifestyle changes, but slow, manageable tweaks over time.
Thus, it is not only important to learn how to deal with changes that occur in one’s life but to seek change and growth. In this way, it is possible to understand why change is resisted, to build up the resistance, and still encounter new conditions and challenges. Remember, change is the basis of development.
Looking at the world as it is today, you should know that it is constantly changing and developing, so you should meet it with curiosity and energy as well as an open mind. Surround yourself with people who will support you, take care of your health and strive to develop yourself every day.
In this way, not only will you learn how to deal with changes that occur in your life, but you will also be able to use changes to your advantage so that you can lead a more satisfying life. Change should be welcomed as it is the only means through which one is actually alive and can become his or her best self.
Are you ready for TRANSFORMATION?
Dzigbordi Kwaku-Dosoo is a Ghanaian multi-disciplinary Business Leader,
Entrepreneur,
Consultant, Certified High-Performance Coach (CHPC
) and global Speaker.
She is the Founder and CEO of The DCG Consulting Group.
She is the trusted coach to top executives, managers, teams, and entrepreneurs
helping
them reach their highest level of performance through the integration of technical skills
with human (soft)skills for personal development and professional growth, a recipe for
success she has perfected over the years.
Her coaching, seminars and training has helped many organizations and individuals to
transform their image and impact, elevate their engagement and establish networks
leading to improved and inspired teams, growth and productivity.
The post Embracing change: The key to personal growth and success appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.
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