It is a new year and you may be considering making changes in your life. At the same time, you are afraid to change and to make adjustments. Generally, most of us are afraid of change, be it for a job, for moving to another country, for a new home, for new ideas, for new skills, for new ways of doing things or for a change in status and families. In this post I will discuss change and what you can do to implement change effectively.
Why We Resist Change
One reason why we are reluctant to change is our penchant for habit. We are all creatures of habit and, as we cling to habit we become adverse to change. While habits create a comfort zone for us, they also free us from the effort of planning, making decisions, paying attention to details and from thinking creatively.
It is good to note the words of Alan Cohen. He said, “It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.”
Sometimes we react to change by resisting it, denying its presence, avoiding it and blaming others for the change. Often we waste a lot of energy by moaning and groaning about the change rather than doing something positive. Instead, we should, embrace change enthusiastically and creatively. We should also cultivate certain personal characteristics that will help us to respond to change favourably.
Personal Qualities
Qualities like persistence, curiousity, energy and honesty will help us to develop a positive attitude to change. Being inquisitive and developing a desire to try new opportunities helps in our quest for change. To be receptive to change we should be self-motivated and believe that we are working on something relevant and important. The change becomes easier to accept if, at the time the change is introduced, we are excited about the work that we will be performing. Cultivating a commitment to the change and being attracted to the new idea, approach or process will help to make the change more palatable.
People who have good problem-solving abilities and who can think creatively generally appreciate the need for change. They are more willing to experiment, and to try out new ideas. They are risk oriented and willing to take chances. They are not afraid of failing with the change. They know how to manage the fear that is associated with the change.
When faced with a change, people are motivated to perform even more and even better by the challenges that the change brings. It has also been said that the more unconventional you are, the better able you are to adapt to change and the more receptive you are to new ideas, new methods, new processes and new equipment.
For the change to be successful and to be accepted totally, it is essential to cultivate a quality mindset. If we aspire for quality in our work and in our lives, we will recognize that we need to change from time to time in order to maintain quality.
Knowledge and Experience
When we are competent and capable of working in a new area or with new techniques, equipment or processes we are able to embrace the change more easily. To change then we need to equip ourselves with the necessary knowledge, ability and experience. A good example would be changing the way we communicate from old methods to new ways like social media.
Experienced people are also better able to adapt to change as they have expertise and experience in many diverse areas. They are able to use their experience to help them adapt to the change or to be creative with the change.
Working with Others
When the change involves working with others, collaborating on a new project or idea, then the need for good teamwork is essential. Working in a team requires trust and a willingness to help and share with each other. Be willing to share your knowledge with others. For the change to be implemented successfully there should be good and open communication between the team members. The person who is able to listen to others and who is willing to accept the ideas of others is also more receptive to change. It helps too, if the members are flexible and if they are prepared to look at issues and ideas from a different perspective. Any preconceptions that they may have should be removed and they should not hold on to old methods, processes, styles and activities.
You Have To Change
If you wish to change you will need to give up your old habits and to feel confident. To accept the change it is important to believe in and trust the change. It helps too, to think positively and to be optimistic about the results of the change. As Norman Vincent Peale said, “Change your thoughts and you change your world.” You need to take responsibility for what you do and to approach the change with integrity. By integrity I mean honesty and uprightness.
Have Fun
In everything that we do there must be an element of fun. More so when we are working on change be it to acquire a new skill, a new language or a new job. Our change could be a change of place to live or a change of life-style. Whatever the change may be, to avoid it being painful, stressful, and unpleasant, we should approach it with fun. Do not resist change-embrace it with open arms!
Thank you, Zaibun, for sharing the saying of Alan Cohen about Changes gives power and security. Thank you also for keeping us in mind that when we change our thoughts, we change our world, and to embrace Changes with open arms and minds.