Mastering Change in Challenging Times
If these last 2 years have showed us anything, it’s that we are no strangers to change and mental health challenges. Sure we pivot and adjust, we juggle our finances to make ends meet, we deal with masks and quarantines, all while handling the emotional toll it’s taken on our families.
We have been challenged to become super heroes each and every day, and the funny thing is these are just the most obvious things. In these crazy times, change is common, and how we deal with it can make or break us. Change happens and developing the ability to change with it is the key to thriving in this world of ours.
So often when we are met with change we respond with resistance, and looked at it as a source of stress. But I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t need to be that way.
What if you could think about change in a whole new way? What if the next time you are faced with a challenge instead of getting frustrated, you could find the silver lining? What if the idea of an upcoming change could bring about excitement and inspiration instead of stress and resentment? It can be that way, and for many of us it is!
Change doesn’t have to be something to fear. Change can be something that gives us a fresh start, a new attitude and a brighter future. It’s the knowing how to “handle” it that makes all the difference. Over the years I have watched people who move through change with ease and have even been “one of them” a time or 2.
On common thing I noticed was that those who were able to move through change with less difficulty did something that others don’t.
They changed with the change and used the following steps effectively. With these steps you can prepare and shift your mindset to bring new life into your reality and a smile to your face that will have you prepared for any situation that comes your way.
6 Steps to Change
Step 1: Recognize
The first action step to handling any type of change is to simply recognize that things will be different. This idea may seem trivial, but if you resist the fact that things are going to change you will never begin to take action. And action is what moves us forward. During any new situation, frustration and uncomfortable feelings will surface, and unless you let yourself acknowledge them and become aware of how you react to those feelings, you will be unable to move on to step 2: Deciding.
Step 2: Decide
The decision to change the circumstances in your daily life is not a simple one, especially when that change may not be something you desire. In order to move forward, you must commit to doing things differently, and this isn’t always easy. Deciding to develop a long term commitment to create new habits and actions is nothing to be taken lightly, but the rewards of doing so will move you closer to the life that you desire. When you are challenged with something - no matter how big or small - you must decide how you will take action to make the adjustment, how you will fill your time and alter your routine. And then you take action based on those decisions.
Step 3: Assess and Uncover what isn’t working
As with any change, it is important to take a closer look at what is and isn’t working right now. Are the decisions you made when you first found out life was changing working or are they causing more stress? If you are unhappy, take the time to uncover what it really is that is causing it. Are you afraid? If it’s finances - ask yourself what is the real concern; not enough cash to pay bills or is it that you feel as though you need to do something as a family and the finances are to tight to do so. Maybe it’s a personal relationship, parenting or other concerns, only you can uncover what isn’t working, and in doing so you will find what you want to change and what the best way to proceed is!
Step 4: Design
Knowing what you want out of any situation is a key step to meeting change with a positive attitude toward your life. If you are excited about what you are moving toward, you will be more likely to stay with the process of doing so. You have the power to design your experience any way you like. So take the time and design it in a way that works for you! Struggling? Choose to connect with positive happy people. Overwhelmed by the family schedule? Create a new routine that works for everyone! By taking some time to think about what you want, you have the power to Design any situation to fit your needs and feed your spirit!
Step 5: Create habits
In order to make anything happen, you need to take action. And for any action to be forward moving, it must become a habit that you want and can do on a consistent basis. So often people think of all the “bad habits” that they have, instead I want you to think of all the good habits you have and add to them! How do you start your day? Does it work for you? If not take this time of change and try something new!
Step 6: Evaluate again!
The final step in any process of change is to take the time and evaluate whether your new habits are actually doing what they are meant to do. We have all had times where we are working hard, but getting no where, all because we were so focused on “working harder” rather than looking at what our work was moving us toward. If the new routine is stressing you out, change it! By incorporating the “evaluate” step regularly into your life, you will be better able to adjust to the small changes which makes the big ones easier to handle!
Thriving during these challenging times comes with A LOT of change, and if you can begin to accept that change is an opportunity rather than a problem, your life will open up and all the miracles that are there for you will present themselves!
~Judy Davis is on a mission to help you stress less and improve your mental wellness. She is a motivational speaker, published author and mental wellness specialist with information, products and books that are go to resources to help people reduce stress and find balance in their lives. You can also connect with Judy on Instagram @Judy.Davis55 or through her website DavisInspired.com