Change happens (and how to deal with it in 6 steps)
Hans Buster
CEO at Teem Engineering – Building Bridges for Successful Engineering Partnerships
Probably you realized, like most people, that in some aspects of your life change is necessary or even inevitable. Let’s see these 6 steps to find out how to deal with it when the time comes (that time is NOW).
0. Change happens
First of all or better to say zero of all, it is necessary to realize that change happens whether you want it or not. We all know what we want to have in life and we spend our time looking for it. Very often people stay in their comfort zone waiting for things to happen and to remain the same. You may struggle to stay in your comfort zone for all your life, but it is important to realize that at some point change will just happen. Don’t you believe it’s better to create the change you want rather than sit and wait for it?
1. Anticipate change and be ready before it happens
What would you do if you weren't afraid of change? Reply honestly to this question and you will be better prepared before you create a change or before it happens by itself. Always be ready for anything and keep your integrity.
2. Observe and analyze change
It depends on your personality and the context how often you will be eager to change intentionally. Anyhow, monitor change, learn from it, notice the good results and see what you can improve in order to live a better life.
3. Adapt to change as fast as possible
Be ready to change quickly because the change will not wait for you to get used to it and to think it over. It will just happen. Therefore you will have to adapt fast. You don’t want to be one of those people who complain and ask themselves why they should change. Get up quickly, adapt and move on!
4. Change
Fear of change prevents many people from realizing their dreams. Too much fear can make you unable to act; therefore you have to make a decision, to see the advantages of what is happening and to break out of your comfort zone. Many people resist change because they are too fearful to leave their safe harbor. Just remember that if you don’t change your response to your environment, the results will remain the same. Do something different, take the risk and accept responsibility, knowing that it may or it may not work.
5. Appreciate and enjoy change
Very often people expect things and think they deserve them. Wouldn't you agree that being grateful for what you have is a precious human characteristic? Enjoy your change, it definitely helps you to grow as a person and it encourages you to be curious, to explore new worlds of the unknown. If you don’t take things and people for granted, you will find value in every change that happens.
6. Repeat the steps 1-6 when the next change arises
Since the world is changing all the time, be ready for many more changes to come. And then just repeat all the steps above. It will not always be easy, but you will manage if you want to. And the more you practice it, the better you will get at it, it is like working out, in the beginning it is hard, but it becomes more and more fun as you continue.
What a beautiful power lies in every human being, the power of freedom and choice! You decide how to handle change.
P.S. What about the others?
When you are ready to change and are changing, you will feel the need to show to other people what change is bringing into your life and how useful and enjoyable it is. You have to be careful though because someone may not be ready to change and you will need to respect that and let them experience the consequences for themselves. Like we mentioned in the beginning, only the person himself can decide whether he will change or not and how he will deal with a change he encounters in life.
Take the challenge!
If you want to practice change and anticipate it, set a challenge for yourself. Think of a change that might happen in one aspect of your life and write down how you want to deal with it, what you want to learn from it and how it will make you grow as a person. It will give you some additional power and encouragement. Don’t wait until you are ready, just go for it!
Inspired by who moved my cheese?
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