Fall is always a busy time of year. Summer is ending, school is starting and winter is coming. While everything around us is changing, we may struggle to build a new routine which can be very stressful. Change is an unavoidable constant in our work lives, but fortunately, there are ways to adapt to change, and even to take advantage of it.
- Find the humor in the situation. Trying to find a funny moment during an otherwise unfunny situation can be a fantastic way to see a frustrating problem from a new perspective. It can help others feel better as well. Researchers have found that witty banter can lighten the mood and improve social interaction. Just make sure it’s inclusive and respectful.
- Talk about problems more than feelings. One of the most common myths of coping with unwanted changes is the idea that we can “work through” our anger, fears, and frustrations by talking about them a lot. However, research shows that actively and repeatedly broadcasting negative emotions hinders our natural adaptation processes. Instead, call out your anxiety/anger at the outset of a disorienting change so that you are aware of how it might distort your thinking. Then look for practical advice about what to do next. By doing so, you’ll zero in on the problems you can solve, instead of lamenting the ones you can’t.
- Don’t stress out about stressing out. Our beliefs about stress matter. Your reaction to stress has a greater impact on your health and success than the stress itself. If you believe stress kills you, it will. If you believe stress is trying to carry you over a big obstacle, you’ll become more resilient. When you start to feel stressed, ask yourself what your stress is trying to help you accomplish. Stress can be a good thing if you choose to see it that way.
- Focus on your values instead of your fears. Reminding ourselves of what’s important can create a surprisingly powerful buffer against whatever troubles may be ailing us. Reflecting on a personal value helps us rise above the immediate threat, and makes us realize that our personal identity can’t be compromised by one challenging situation.
- Accept the past, but fight for the future. Even though we are never free from change, we are always free to decide how we respond to it. If we fixate on the limitations of a specific change, we inevitably succumb to worry, bitterness, and despair. Instead, we should choose to accept the fact that change happens, and employ our freedom to decide what to do next.
- Don’t expect stability. Some people have trouble coping with change while others thrive. Those who struggle with change are consumed by thoughts of “the good old days.” However, those who are adaptive chose to view all changes, whether wanted or unwanted, as an expected part of the human experience.
Although each of these techniques requires different skills, there’s one thing that you must do if you want to be more successful at dealing with change: accept it.
