How to embrace change and get back in control when life throws you off course

Staying in our comfort zone makes us feel calm, safe and in control. It's a place where we are familiar with our surroundings and don't feel the need to take risks.

But change is all around us. It’s an inevitable part of life and can happen at any time. Sometimes even the smallest change can throw us off-course and make us anxious about the future.

Regardless of whether it’s a personal change - divorce/separation, illness or bereavement, or a professional change - new boss, promotion, or company restructure, change that is out of our control can disrupt our sense of stability and predictability, leaving us floundering and stressed.

Acceptance is key

For some people change can be extremely daunting at times. It makes us feel very scared and uncomfortable, and quite often, we might be tempted to resist change and stay within the familiar. If we do this though, we may find ourselves limiting our potential, preventing us from moving forward in life. It may even indicate a backward step.

But it’s worth remembering that if we can learn to accept and embrace life’s ups and downs there are also many benefits, including having a fresh perspective, greater adaptability, increased confidence, access to more opportunities, improved relationships, opportunities for personal/professional growth, better health (mental and physical) and greater levels of success.

Positivity and flexibility

So, what do you need to do to maintain a positive and flexible outlook without dwelling on the negatives? Here are some things you can try.

1.     Focus - focus on the things you can control, rather than getting stressed about things you can't.

2.     Set realistic expectation/goals - accept that life is unpredictable and setbacks are a natural part of the journey. This can help to reduce frustration and disappointment.

3.     Growth Mindset - adopt a growth mindset which will enable you to view challenges as opportunities for learning and growth, rather than as setbacks.

4.     Communications – stay in touch with your manager and colleagues, ask for help, and discuss any concerns you have.

5.     Support - surround yourself with supportive friends, family and colleagues who can provide encouragement and different perspectives during tough times.

6.     Training – be receptive to any training, learning, development or support that is offered and which can help you adjust to the change.

7.     Self-Care - be kind to yourself as this can help you to build resilience, recover from setbacks and improve your overall wellbeing.

8.     Reflection – make time for journaling, meditation, mindfulness or talking through your experiences as this can help you to prioritize problems, fears, and concerns, so that you can recognize triggers and learn ways to better control them.

9.     Boost morale – celebrating small wins creates a sense of progress and achievement that instils confidence, optimism, and a positive outlook helping to keep you and others engaged and motivated.

10.  Consider the bigger picture: think about how the change could positively impact your role and help you develop professionally.

Despite the positive outcomes that change can bring, it can still be a scary and overwhelming prospect. Although change is good for you, this doesn’t necessarily make it easy to take that first step out of your comfort zone. Fortunately, you can learn to embrace change and the benefits it offers. Once you do, you’ll be eager to continue your journey of personal and professional development.

If you’d like some help to enable you to accept and embrace change and move forwards in your life, then please get in touch.