Coping with Change

Making changes in your life can be exciting and offer promise. However, the execution of these changes can bring challenges. But, when it’s your choice to pursue your goal or dream, you forge ahead.

However, in recent times we have all had change imposed on us. For many this has generated emotions of fear, loss, loneliness, anxiety, panic, resentment, and other negative emotions that may present as anger or general lack of control. These emotions are all part of the human experience but it’s when these emotions fall outside a manageable range that we struggle.

At the beginning of lockdown, you may have managed your immediate environment which allowed you a sense of control. The media tells stories of families cooking and baking, de-cluttering and cleaning, and gardening together. You may have begun to learn to play the piano, or maybe the guitar. You may have caught up with that backlog of reading, taken time to connect with friends and extended family over social media.

So…… what next for you?

For some it will be more uncertainty. All those tasks around the home and garden are completed. So, what does come next? We are all dependent on the Government to guide us through the next phases, which means more imposed changes. But what happens if you are reluctant or fearful to adopt to these changes? You may find yourself back to those negative emotions again.

We do have the option to take control by planning for change, which will help to minimise the risk. This preparedness will help to reduce the anxiety. Learning to live with the vagueness of the future can provide us with a different type of control – a control over our emotions - to assist us to live securely within a manageable range.

A possible four options to consider:

1. Decide to take control of your negative feelings using exercises to manage your mindset.
2. Plan as best you can for change which will help to minimise the risk and reduce the anxiety.
3. Learning to live with the vagueness of the future can provide you with a different type of control – choosing and learning to manage new thoughts, feelings and behaviours will increase your resilience. This will help you to live securely within a manageable range.
4. This time of restriction offers time and space to learn new skills which will further prepare you for the future and open up opportunities that may have eluded you in the past.

Let us remind ourselves of the positive emotions - joy, love, warmth, kindness, optimism, and many more. Kindness has been at the forefront in our local communities over the last twelve weeks. How rich is the human experience?

When you strive to find meaning, perhaps a new purpose, the potential for continued growth and learning will help you to be the best you can be. It is what we can become that drives us forward, not what we are today.

If you find yourself struggling and in need of support, please call now for a no obligation telephone consultation on 01494 873880 Jill