According to Darwin's Origin of Species, It is not the strongest that survives; nor the most intelligent who survives. It the one the that is most adaptable to change.
The one constant thing in our lives is change. We cannot avoid it and the more we resist changes, the more difficult our life becomes. We are surrounded by changes daily and there is no avoiding it. There is however a healthy and realistic way to face change and that is to adapt.
Whether because of choice, crisis or chance, change can come into our lives unannounced at any time. Be ready to adapt and you will have more control over the circumstances you may have to face. Be proactive as opposed to reactive.
When we are resilient, we become stronger and can embrace the changes we are to face. Changes can bring us many positive opportunities and since you cannot escape anyway, embrace them. You will not only survive, you will thrive.
Here are a few strategies to help you adapt and manage the changes in your life.
Changing your mindset –
We like to live our lives in our comfort zone. Our subconscious likes this because it is the “known”. Embracing change is stepping into the unknown and our subconscious will does not like the “unknown.” so it will resist.
Making a conscious decision to tackle these changes head on is powerful. It gives you the control. Share your concerns with a trusted colleague or friend and let the discussion you have guide you and perhaps give you a different perspective.
Life is about choices, we cannot control the events that change our lives, but we can control how we react to them and the impact they will have on our lives.
Finding meaning in life –
“Step out of your comfort zone. Comfort zones, where your unrealized dreams are buried, are the enemies of achievement. Leadership begins when you step outside your comfort zone.” ― Roy T. Bennett
With a sense of purpose and meaning in life, you have clarity and focus and both these elements are essential to you being able to successfully adapt and manage the impact of change in your life.
Having no purpose or meaning means that you tend to drift in life within the confines of your comfort zone. Purpose and meaning in life gives you the courage to step out of your comfort zone – which is where you will find change and the opportunities it can offer to you.
Regrets be gone! –
Allow yourself to adapt, it is the events of change that present opportunities in life, so if are looking back at your past you may miss the opportunities of the present and the future.
You cannot change what you did or did not do in the past so let it go. The only control you have now is to choose to live in your present and future life.
A great exercise to deal with regrets in life is to blow up a heap of balloons and on each balloon write a regret. Then, let the balloon go. As the balloon drifts off, out loud say goodbye to that regret. A simple but an effective way of dealing with the pile of regrets that you have collected in your lives.
We all desire to live successful, happy and long lives. To achieve what we all desire we need to be proactive about how we mange the change we face in our lives.
Denial and resisting change will only result in you living a miserable life. This is why it is so important to learn how to be adaptable, resilient and bold in life because these 3 things are key to you successfully adapting to the constant impact that change will have on your life.
- Log in to post comments