Change Is Inevitable

Change Happens

Author Douglas Adams once wrote in his book Mostly Harmless, "Anything that happens, happens. Anything that, in happening, causes something else to happen, causes something else to happen. Anything that, in happening, causes itself to happen again, happens again. It doesn’t necessarily do it in chronological order, though." The truth is that things in life rarely remain static for a long time. Things happen. Systems get upgraded. New schools of thought are discovered. Have you changed with the times? Are you adjusting your career battle-plan? Own your change.

 

TYPES OF CHANGES

What kinds of changes are you dealing with in your life? You can deal with it, whether it is a tiny change or a big, monumental, transformational event. You just need to get your head around it. There are many kinds of changes but they can all be boiled down to two questions:  Is it wanted change? Can you prepare for it in advance? Once you answer those questions, you will hopefully be a little less stressed as you will then be able to better deal with the change.

Think of the types of change across a 4-box matrix:

Top Left Box - If the change that you expect is wanted, but there is no way to prepare or to know when it will happen, your best strategy would be to practice patience. Sometimes good things come to those who wait.

Top Right Box - You wanted change and now it is coming. If you are able to prepare in advance, you can take advantage of the event. Set yourself up to do more than succeed. Set yourself up for multiple successes. Try to group your tasks and events so that victory in one can help the others. Hopefully I am making sense on this one. In other words, nothing succeeds like success.

Bottom Left Box - Push forward peacefully and keep going.  There is a Serenity Prayer that some people follow that may be helpful to remember:

God, grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,

and wisdom to know the difference.

If there is nothing you can do to stop an unwanted change, then there is nothing you can do. Try to work on the things you can change in your life. Try to find strength to pass through those changes that are unwanted. Consider breathing exercises, doing yoga, or talking to a friend. Anything you need to so you can find serenity.

Bottom Right Box - If you know a flood is coming, you had better put up some sandbags now and plan your path to higher ground. Sometimes there are changes that are for the worse, but the damage can be negated with the proper amount of preparation.

ASK THE QUESTIONS OF YOURSELF
Change will often push us; cause us to get out of our comfort zone. How we answer those questions for ourselves will help decide how to handle the change.

On a personal note, I have not made any updates to my blog in a while, as I have been experiencing my own changes - Career, family, etc. Additionally, I may change the format or I may leave it as is. As I debate this, I ask myself the questions above: Is Change Wanted? Is Preparation Possible?

If I do not talk to you again soon, have a great summer.

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