Change is Essential-3 Ways to Embrace it

Even good change can be scary and uncomfortable.  

I want to show you how to successfully move through change with grace and positive growth.

We are told things like "embrace change" like we can go give it a big hug...but what does that really even mean? How does one actually "embrace" change? 

I've had a lot of change in the last year and collectively, the world has had a lot of change in the last two years. When there is something new and scary in my life, I tend to do some research. Asking questions and learning become my coping mechanisms. My first question was what is change? Second, what does embrace mean other than what I do to people I haven't seen for a long time. 

Change is defined in noun form as the act or instance of making or becoming different.  This becoming different is what I think scares everyone (I speak from experience on this!).

But when defined as a verb, it feels much better: replace (something) with something else, especially something of the same kind that is newer or better; substitute one thing for (another). Newer or better sounds less scary than different. 

What I am used to doing is embracing:  holding (someone) closely in one's arms, especially as a sign of affection. What seems to be a better option when change is involved, is to be prepared to embrace: accept or support (a belief, theory, or change) willingly and enthusiastically. So, as I move into a new year, I want to think differently than I did going into the last one. I want to be prepared to embrace something newer or better in a willing and enthusiastic way. 

Preparation is key

You might be wondering why being prepared to embrace something newer or better in a willing and enthusiastic way is important. Well, as you might remember from biology class, as humans, we are in a life cycle which takes us through a series of changes (not all better since puberty and menopause will happen as part of those changes).

If things are going to happen, we might as well be prepared for them. Getting in the right mindset is just as important as financial planning when making a large purchase or planning for retirement. 

Resisting change means you will have a harder time with the change making it a new stressful situation if you are unprepared. Imagine this scenario: you decide at 50 to retire from your job because you are tired of getting up at 7 to work for 8 hours. 

Great! Now you can sleep in and spend your day doing what you want. Then you get notices from the electric company and your mortgage company that your monthly statement is ready for you to view. Are you prepared for what was going to be a new and better change while also maintaining the comfort of your prior situation? Do you have the money for your bills and food in your newfound retirement?

Preparation and mindset go a long way in making this type of change one for the better. 

Action Item One: Think it through - make a list if needed.

Think about the change and make a list of the positive outcomes. If you think there will be challenges, list those separately and work on finding a solution to those. Let's say life as we know it has taken a hard right and you are heading down a path of tangled vines and possible spiders waiting to jump on you from out of nowhere! Are you prepared for that or do you want to stop a moment and consider some options before you just keep moving?

 Action Item Two: Get your mindset in shape - it's bikini season!

Let me tell you, your mindset shows whether you like it or not. Mindset is like my face when someone says something crazy. My thoughts show and I don't even know that my face is telling the speaker I'm thinking "What the....?" without saying a word.

So when I'm getting ready for a meeting, I have to really think about the professional environment and do all that I can to keep my face tucked into my proverbial swimsuit without showing everything I own. 

Action Item Three: Work with the change - not against it. 

You've probably heard people say "go with the grain" when cutting wood, meat, etc. so that you are doing things an easier way. Or "go with the flow" has the same effect. Resistance is good for building muscle but when it's something you can't change, your approach determines your stress and success levels. 

IRL example

Seeing myself in pictures, I knew was getting a little more round than I would like but I was happy so, no worries. I was not going to deprive myself of any food I wanted because I worked hard and deserved the treats. I kinda half did a diet of no bread, one soda a day instead of the five or six I liked to have. No change on the scale or in how I felt physically. I was in the resistance of "newer and better" because I thought a different diet was too restrictive and I would be miserable.

When I had enough of my gut issues plaguing me and keeping me feeling yucky all the time, I decided I needed to change my diet. So I made a list of why I would be a better version of myself with the changes and how I would be without them (that list was easy!).

Then I committed to changing my vocabulary around food. Instead of saying "I can't have cheese" with a frowny face, I made a joke of it and said, "Cheese really doesn't like me and I don't want to fight with it tonight."

That was how I handled the change.

I knew certain items were bad for me. I didn't like what they did to my body so I focused on what I could have. I started feeling better, the scale moved, and so did my belt notch!

Now eating out is a little challenging for new places but now I have my "usual" orders when I go places.

A bonus of that is that I don't have to pour over the menu feeling stressed out about what I'm ordering.

I can feel confident in what I'm ordering and focus on my dinner partner. Double bonus there!

Peace and love,

Teresea

Photo credit: Lee Wright; Unsplash