The Challenge of Change - Fear of the Unknown
By Paul Bremer, for Revive Your Life
Photo by David Reece
That old saying about death and taxes being the only things in life one can count on is a bit incomplete in its philosophy. I suppose the implicit message is that life holds virtually no guarantees, but that a visit from the grim reaper and government collection exist as the only two obvious unavoidables. Yet somehow, many fail to realize bad things often come in threes, and that they’ve inadvertently thrown the notion of change into that same category.
Insistent and dependent upon routines to guide their everyday lives, people seem to shutter and panic at the very thought of some unforeseen interruption. Skinny latte lovers will raise Hell should Starbucks run dry of fat-free milk while other patrons still grieve the loss of their favorite promotional beverage at season’s end. A dizzying loop has been thrown into their perfectly structured lives, and they’re forced to cope with the blow.
Change is seldom regarded as a positive shift in routine, but instead seen as an ominous storm cloud that sets a negative tone for the remainder of the day. After all, when it rains it pours.
People are reluctant to allow change in their lives. Like a roadmap illustrating a shortcut, they are suspicious of the detour and would rather travel the road of safety and familiarity. But at what point did change receive a reputation for being a deterrent to experiencing the good that life has to offer?
Change is frequently feared because it’s associated with the unknown. As human beings, we rely on our senses to detect harm or anything else that will have some impact on the way we live. However, the effect that change may bring often cannot be seen, heard, felt, or otherwise. It’s a scary position to be in when you feel unprepared for a potentially life-altering situation when you’ve worked so hard to arrange your life to fit in a cohesive package that suits your needs and wishes.
However, life will become so much easier if people would embrace change as a natural happening in life, and realize the good that may come from it. Think of change in general as your wardrobe. It’s fun to experiment with different styles of clothing because each look portrays you differently. Every time you change an outfit, you become whoever your clothing allows you to be.
A move to a new neighborhood or new career can simply be a change of clothes. You can re-invent yourself and start fresh. Own your new look and be confident in it. When you look back on how things used to be, think of it all as a process of evolution where you’re moving ahead in life one step at a time. Going into any new situation with a defeatist attitude only hinders your ability to make the most of a possibly rewarding situation.
Idealistically, all change is good change, but on the surface this may not always appear to be true. The harsh reality is that unfortunate circumstances arise that test your ability to deal with what has been forced upon you. Once you’ve gone through the necessary emotional struggle, attempt to see a silver lining because every bad situation has one. Even if you’re not one of those people who subscribe to the belief that everything happens for a reason, you can still find purpose and an opportunity for personal growth.
Analyze your feelings and find those you love and trust to share them with. It’s remarkable how verbal expression can enlighten you to things you’ve never known about yourself. An empowering sense of strength will emerge when you decide to take control. Perhaps, use this newfound strength to help others in a similar situation by volunteering your time. At the very least, if you refuse to play a victim, you’ll develop more respect for yourself and ultimately find a confidence from within that will follow you in all professional and personal endeavors. This drastic, seemingly tragic change in your life can open doors that may never have been unlocked.
On that same token, don’t take a backseat to change by letting fear keep you in a rut. If you are unhappy, do something about it. Some changes will happen naturally but don’t wait around for them to find you if you’re in need. Seek out what you want for yourself and recognize that you deserve everything you are willing to work for.
Once you’ve accepted change as an inevitable presence in your life, the sooner you’ll be able to adjust with the detours that are presented. In moderation, change can provide a much needed balance to one’s routines by allowing for variety. The beauty of life in this day and age is that the sky is the limit. If you’re willing to allow change in your life, the possibilities will be limitless.
Click on to submit this post to your favorite social bookmarking sites such as Digg or StumbleUpon!
Subscribe to receive free updates via the Revive Your Life RSS feed!
Related Posts:
No related posts.
Comments
5 Responses to “The Challenge of Change - Fear of the Unknown”
Share your thoughts with the RYL community!
You can also subscribe to the RYL RSS feed!
Loading ...
Isn’t it amazing how we, as human beings, tend to be fearful of change? Think what our lives would be like if there were never any change? I suppose we fear change for the reason you pointed out..fear of the unknown. We should do as you say and strive to accept the fact that change is natural and will always be present.
Thanks for the great article!
Keith,
Accepting change just happens to be the most difficult part! Fortunately, this is something that we can work on by merely living in the moment and taking life as it comes.
Fo sure Paul! Gotta accept change or life will not accept you.
Thanks for the good read cuz.
As a change management consultant, I love this post. As a mom who has been looking for 4 months to find a new neighborhood for my family, I appreciate the insight. As much as I know about change, there is still some fear inside of me (what if my new house has hidden problems, what if my neighbors are not neighborly, etc). Thank you for helping re-frame my perspective.
Stacey,
It sounds like you have some big changes on the horizon, but it also sounds like you are taking the time to make wise decisions for you and your family. Embrace the upcoming challenges and I’m sure they will work out for the best!