Coping with Change

Today, the lives of so many people around the world are filled with fear and uncertainty.  L.P. Lovecraft, an early 19th Century American author, once said, “The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is the fear of the unknown.” 

We are creatures of habit who strive for clarity, consistency, and certainty in our lives. When change occurs, we are often ill-equipped to effectively manage it. So, how do you handle change?  Do you brush it aside or hit it head-on? Does change drain you? Or does it get your juices flowing?

For many, change can be difficult as it challenges routines, rituals, relationships, sense of security, identity, and thought processes. Managing change spans the spectrum from denial to full acceptance. Because change is inevitable, it is worth learning how best to deal with it.

Who Moved My Cheese? by Spenser Johnson is a short book or parable published in 1999, that explores the lives of four characters whose “cheese” has been moved. “Cheese” in this instance, meaning anything – a job, a relationship, anything that can be a source of comfort and security.

How would you react if your cheese was moved?

As human beings, it’s natural for us to view change as a threat or to be afraid of change, especially when it comes unexpectedly. We tend to put our guard up and go back to what we know, avoiding change like the plague.

In the book, the ultimate conclusion is that change is inevitable. If you do not change, you can become extinct. Effective people monitor change, anticipate it, adapt to it, learn to embrace and enjoy it. So, ask yourself:

What do you need to learn and update about yourself, given the changes occurring around you now?

What would you do if you were not afraid?

It’s important to realize that if you do change, uncertainties will still exist in the world around you. However, you will enjoy more success and fulfillment in every part of your life and your work. Are you ready to learn how to deal with change?

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