CHANGE IS INEVITABLE. GROWTH IS OPTIONAL.
With the right strategies, you can begin embracing change and build the life you have always dreamed of.
Over time, you will go through changes. These changes may be emotional, spiritual, physical, mental, or all the above. Some changes happen without a plan, while others are plugged into the calendar and organized just as you wish. Furthermore, with each change, you can integrate new information into your identity and sense of personhood. In other words, with each change, you have an opportunity to grow and become more YOU!
People often become so obsessed with the expectations that they feel disappointed or quick to give up when things do not go perfectly. And let us face it — life never goes as planned.
If you were to bake a cake, what is the first thing that you picture? Perhaps you imagine the cake itself, a yummy tower of chocolate with rich buttercream icing on top. When setting out to accomplish something, like baking a cake, we often think about the outcome. Instead of savoring the experience of preparing the cake, we create expectations of the product, missing out on enjoying the process. We often look at our goals in life in the same way.
Whether we want to make a significant change, or a change happens to us, we visualize the outcome. We set expectations. But this way of thinking can make it challenging to navigate through change. After all, making a significant change in life does not happen overnight. The road to achievement comes with all sorts of twists, turns, and dead ends.
While it is undoubtedly helpful to set goals, fixating too much on the result means missing out on opportunities for personal development, growth, and even having a little fun along the way.
That is why embracing change is so significant. Although you cannot predict the future, you can learn to navigate transitions, how to prioritize your life more effectively, and become more resilient along the way. Although it is impossible to predict the future, understanding what to expect, you will have a better idea of managing the uncertainties that come with change.
The beginning of change is also the end of something. Whether a relationship changes or a job ends, we often find ourselves at a moment when a phase of life comes to an end. It feels a lot like the ending of a chapter in a book. Change is not easy. When something shifts, a lot of different emotions can come up. It can feel confusing, stressful, or just plain scary. You can experience sadness or a bit of numbness. You may even feel excitement for the new beginning that you are moving toward.
As you move from the ending, you find yourself in a transition or neutral zone. You have not quite ended the conclusion. You have not quite started the beginning. In between a period of change, it takes time for the transition to occur.
During the transition zone, you can feel a lot of mixed emotions. It can feel confusing, frightening, and overwhelming. You may feel self-doubt, unbalanced, lost, or numb.
But guess what? That is entirely normal.
Uncertainty is a natural part of any adjustment period. When you realize that, you can accept some of the uncomfortable feelings that arise during the transition process, knowing that you will come out on the other side with resilience and patience stronger than before.
