Change, like death and taxes, is one of the thing we can't avoid in life yet it's amazing how so many people react to change as if they were having a phobic response.
The most unproductive responses to change are anger, fear, and overwhelm because they turn ones attention away from all the possible responses that would be constructive and beneficial.
The solution to surviving and thriving amid change is to instill an active sense of creativity, adaptability and flexibility. Just as a species must adapt to a changing environment to survive so must individuals.
The difference between surviving and thriving is the difference between "just getting by" and "finding (or making) the best of any situation".
This is not just pie in the sky positive thinking but creative thinking that challenges some of our most natural responses to surrender to depression and despair. What follows are some key factors that can help anyone become more adaptable and give them the quantum leap for surviving to thriving in change.
Create a personal philosophy that incorporates change.
Don't deny it, life is going to throw you a few curves every once in a while. Step back and look at your life in the "big picture" and include in it the unpredictable. When you can look at your life knowing that "stuff happens" and maintain a calm and detached awareness then you're on your way to developing healthy attitude toward change.
Examine those possibilities that may seem the very worst things that could happen; The death of a loved one, A devastating illness or the unforeseen end of a relationship. What skills would you need to turn those things into positive and life transforming experiences?
Remember to words of Socrates “The unexamined life is not worth living.
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Develop a practiced response toward change.
This may go counter to many peoples personal experience and training but it's vital when learning to thrive amid change.
Know ahead of time the positive responses you are going implement when unforeseen change occurs.
Practice asking yourself (and answering) these questions "What is positive about this event?" "How can I turn this into an opportunity?", "What can I learn from this situation?"
Compare those questions to the question less successful people ask "Why does this always happen to me?" You'll notice that you get a qualitatively difference set of answers based on the questions you ask.
Forge a willingness to jump into chaos to test your ability to adapt to change.
Leonardo De Vinci referred to this at Sfumato which literally means "up in smoke" and is defined as a willingness to embrace ambiguity, paradox, and uncertainty. He found his greatest inspirations in those things which confounded him or he didn't understand.
Likewise, you can develop this principle of Sfumato by putting yourself in new situations and creating new challenges for yourself.
Find a task, or goal that is just slightly beyond your current capability that will challenge you in some way. Athletes do this regularly and so do star students and business leaders. Set out to learn a new skill and learn to work through the initial frustration of learning until you have it.
Change is inevitable and as human being we have a huge amount of choices for every situation.
To thrive amid change you must embrace and strengthen the quality of flexibility and remember the person with the most options always wins.
JK Ellis is the author of many books on Mind Control and Self Improvement. His latest book is Mind Control Language Patterns and his web site is http://www.MindControlLanguagePatterns.com
