Deal With Change And Stress: Develop ResilienceCharacteristics of Change and Stress
Most of us learn that change and stress are apart of life, and it is always better to be able to develop foresight and forbearance to handle change. Still change is stressful – even positive changes produce certain amount of stress. How do you handle change, how to deal with stress caused by change, and how to develop that resilience that enables us to turn every change into an opportunity? - Change is inevitable, - Some changes will be for the good, while others may not be so, - Whether you are prepared for the change or you try to ignore it, changes will keep on affecting your life, - Change will cause some amount of stress, - Confronting change and accepting it is the most honest position you can take. Develop ResilienceIt is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory. ~W. Edwards Deming (Thank you, Michelle.) Now that you are clear about the nature of change and its inevitability, and you also expect some stress due to these changes, here are some ways you go about developing resilience so that change and stress do not leave you in the undesirable position of a loser. Act Like A Surfer: When you are confronted with change, don't always expect the worse. If you accept the inevitability of change, you will recognize that in all negative changes there are seeds of positive, and conversely, in all positive changes there are seeds of negative. Try to see the positive that could be hidden in the change. View the changes as surfing. An expert surfer rides on the waves; each coming wave takes him on a new high. On the opposite end, a novice may be engulfed by the approaching waves and go down under. When you are afraid of change and stress associated with these changes, you are like an inexperienced surfer: surely if you are afraid of waves you cannot surf. When you are afraid of changes you cannot enjoy life. You will always be bearing the cross of the latest change on your shoulders, and see everything through the dark glasses of a victim. The fear of changes is mostly rooted in low self esteem. If you identify the symptoms of low self esteem, take steps to boost your self esteem. One of the wisest wishes I know, or you can call it a prayer goes like this- Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Grow By Taking Action: Make an effort to accept the changes. Change is essential for the growth of an individual. The change that might have made you feel mortified earlier may look like a child's play now; you may even actively seek it in later life. A child is afraid to walk, but his enthusiasm to grow makes him take many risks, he takes many bruises in his strides, and ultimately he learns to walk on his own legs. The fact is, changes always catch up with you, and each change forces you to learn something new. If you resist change and stress, you stop growing.
Many changes will force you to learn new skills, many will force you to change from within, and yet others will call upon you to change your perspective.
Growth is akin to thriving as opposed to merely surviving. To grow you have to take appropriate action. Evaluate the situation dispassionately by looking squarely at all the facts, and act accordingly. Overcome your fears; push aside the fear of failure and fear of the unknown. You may succeed or not, but by not taking action you are already a loser. Manage Change Stress: Since change means something new and unexpected, it is inevitable to feel some amounts of stress when things change. Increased stress levels diminish your mental and physical capabilities to deal with the stressful situations: manage stress wisely. Take necessary steps to manage stress- i) Talk with others, who have passed through the similar situations. They will be your guides, and you will be able to gain incalculable wisdom from them. You will learn what to expect, and what kind of skills will be required to handle the change. ii) Analyze the situation. Identify the one factor, or one fear, that affects you the most. Try to understand whether it is a fact or only your fears. Mostly what we are afraid of in our minds, we are able to handle quite well in real life. Our capabilities are often more than we think. Also try to see whether there some good that can come out of this change. iii) Take steps to relieve stress. Some of the most effective strategies are- Meditation, Yoga, Exercise, Positive affirmations, Relaxation Music, Breathing. Becoming resilient, being able to deal with change and stress, is the only way out if you want to be a winner, and if you don't want to live the life of a victim. DISCUSSIONShare Your Story - How Do You Handle Change And Stress?
Do you have a great story, an interesting anecdote, on how you or someone you know, managed stress of change? Further Reading Handling Stress of Change: Coping with Life's Big Changes Coping With Stress With a Positive Attitude Stress Relief Tips And Techniques - Top 10 Stress Relievers Positive Affirmations To Reduce Stress And Maintain Good Health Learn Meditation For Relaxation, Stress Reduction And Beyond Deep Breathing For Stress Relief 5 Simple Exercises You Can Do Anywhere To Beat Stress Top 10 relaxation CD, DVDs, tapes and MP3 downloads p>Key To Handle Family Stress: Effective Communication TechniquesApplication of Positive Thinking To Reduce Stress Overcoming Panic Attacks In 5 Steps Seven Positive Ways to Deal with Stress Back to HOME from Deal with Change and Stress: Develop Resilience
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