Change Happens: How To Accept, Navigate And Master Change

By Author: Michael Angier
Total Articles: 5
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Not only do we live in a time of unprecedented change, but the
changes we're experiencing are happening at a faster and faster
rate. The telephone, radio and TV took decades to be placed into
common use. Now the time it takes from invention to widespread
usage is just a few years sometimes months!

Our lives are significantly unlike that of our parents'. We
think differently, act differently, travel differently, and we
work differently. Virtually everything about how we interact
with the world around us has changed in just one generation.

We're bombarded with new ideas, new systems, new jobs, new
technologies and new opportunities. The more we learn, the more
we realize how small our personal store of knowledge is in
comparison to the vast universe of data.

Most of the change we're experiencing is appreciated. We like
most of what we see happening. While we enjoy many of these
changes, there are other changes that are not so warmly
embraced. There's more uncertainty, less confidence and as a
result more stress.

I'm ...
... a recreational sailor. There's hardly anything I enjoy more
than being out on the water with the wind in my sails. Sailing
has taught me many things. Not the least of which is a healthy
respect for the wind. You have absolutely no control over the
wind only the way you use it. You must master your ability to
handle the wind, regardless how hard it blows or which direction
it blows.

And change is like the wind. It's neither good nor bad. It just
is.

But how we feel about change our attitudes toward it will have
much to do with how well we navigate this turbulent sea of
change. If we dislike change, resist it, ignore it or resent it,
we will lose.

On the other hand, if we use it to our advantage, we'll benefit
from it.

What's your attitude toward change? What are your beliefs about
the change we see around us and the change that surely lies
ahead? When faced with something new and different, do you long
for the old way or do you look for what advantages this may
bring to you, your family, your business.

Your answer may be different based upon the type of change you
face.

Choice or no choice
If the new situation is to your liking or a result of your own
choosing, you will likely have a different reaction than if the
change seems forced upon you a new responsibility at work, a
shopping mall going in next door or your spouse telling you they
want a divorce.

On the other hand, the more power you feel you have over a given
situation, the easier it is to handle.

Recognize change
Author Phillip McGrath is fond of saying and he's right, "You
cannot change what you don't acknowledge." Oftentimes we're slow
to realize or even fail to recognize changes that occur. We need
to look at what's happening and acknowledge what we need to
change in ourselves in order to adapt to the changes around us.

Which brings us to one of the first steps in dealing with change
. . .

How will this change affect me?
Too often, people resist change before allowing themselves to
explore its potential benefits.

Make a sincere effort to look for the good in what appears to be
changing. Because of a natural resistance to the unknown, we
must consciously and logically analyze what this difference will
mean to us. And it's often not what we first perceive.

How can I exploit this change?
Many fortunes have been made by taking swift advantage of
changes and trends before others have realized how to do so.

A change that alters the rules means opportunity only if you're
able to see the new connections and exploit them.

If after thoroughly exploring the potential good, we see the
change as negatively impacting us, we must then ask the next
question . . .

Is there anything I can do about this?
There's no question that some change runs counter to our best
interests. If this is the case, we need to find out if we can
change the circumstances. This is no time to play victim. Often
what LOOKS like a situation totally outside of our control can
in fact be altered.

If we can't change the circumstances, then ask . . .

How can I minimize the impact of this change?
First we must accept it. There's no payoff to being upset about
it. If your destination is LA and you find yourself in San
Francisco due to bad weather or mechanical difficulties, being
angry about it will not get you to LA. In fact it will hinder
you.

By accepting the reality of the situation, we can then change
our strategies. We can take a new tack. We can change sails. We
can set a new course.

Only when we accept the change can we make rational, informed
and effective decisions. Only then can we use our knowledge and
skills to adjust to the changing winds and arrive at our
intended destination.

Now is the time for green-light thinking. Now is the time to
attack the problem with our intellect, to get the help we need,
to do whatever it takes to adjust to this change.

In all of these steps, we need to be creative. As paradigms
shift, as new systems go into place and new technologies evolve,
we must be open to how this changes the setup as we knew it.

Our success is largely dependent upon our acceptance and
response to the change that takes place around us. Extinctions
occur as a result of an inability to change. To change is often
difficult, but to not change may prove fatal.

Those who will thrive in the new millennium will be those who
have positive attitudes toward change. Those who don't will be
left behind, or worse yet, they will founder.
About the Author Michael Angier is the founder and president of
Success Net, publishers of SUCCESS STRATEGIES and SUCCESS
DIGEST. Success Net is a worldwide association committed to
helping people become more knowledgeable, productive and
effective. Their mission is to inform, inspire and empower
people to be their best--personally and professionally. Free
subscriptions, memberships, books and SuccessMark Cards are
available at http://www.SuccessNet.org