Dealing with the inevitable

The one constant in life is change but human beings have never been ready or even equipped for most of the change in our lives. No doubt COVID-19 has brought a level of change that no one ever anticipated. This has lead to a lot of anxiety, stress, and uncertainty around the world. The pandemic has put a glaring light on income and social inequality around the world. Many people are worried about tomorrow as they are not sure they will be able to feed their families. How does one cope with all the strain that is not only financial but psychological and emotional as well. Here are some tips I have learned in life on how to be better at dealing with change.

1. Acknowledge the change. This might seem obvious to many of us but many people have not yet come to the reality that life will never be the same again after this pandemic. One key process during acknowledgment is to allow yourself to go through the emotions so that you do not make emotional decisions. The process allows you to make wise and logical decisions because the mind will have been reframed.
2. Be thankful. I know amidst the change it is hard to see the positive in our lives. Start by being thankful for your life, without life, there is no livelihood. Be thankful for your family, friends, the food you ate, the business you own or work for. If we count our small blessings it makes dealing with change easier.
3. Be vulnerable. Vulnerability is not about winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. In this case, you need to be open with the people around you about how you feel and what you are going through, if you are feeling low, talk to your spouse, friend, mentor, pastor. This is not the time to act brave when everything around you seems to be falling apart. Cultivating honest and genuine relationships is key to this process. If you don't have that kind of support a therapist is highly recommended.
4. Be proactive. Now is the time to map out what you want to do with your life. Have you wanted to take better care of your self, Start a side business, learn a new skill? The time off everyday activities is a great time to actually do the things you have control over. Reach out to your circle and share ideas with them, engage your potential clients and stakeholders, many of them are willing to listen right now. I find that making plans keeps me grounded and allows me to get through the change process.

Thinking about the future might be daunting and sometimes it seems like you might not be able to make it but I hope the few antidotes will be helpful to help while on the journey and remember to take it one day at a time and if you fall, you dust yourself off and try again.