4 Ways to Befriend Change

Be better prepared to ‘go with the flow’

As I have written before, change is an inevitable part of life. Change is evolution, growth, expansion, adaptation and progress. Change spurred humanity’s first tentative steps off the continent of Africa, and it underpins the exquisitely diverse physical and cultural adaptations apparent in our species. Change is the very foundation of our natural existence.

But change is also scary at times. And disruptive, destructive, unnerving and confronting.

Our personal threshold for change can determine much about our lives; everything from our chosen career to our political views is influenced by how well we welcome in, and cope with, the new and the unknown.

But what I know from personal experience is that we each have an ability to befriend change; we each have an opportunity to stretch our ‘adaptation muscles’, strengthen our faith in life (and our own abilities) and roll with the adjustments that would otherwise threaten to break us.

In order to be more comfortable with change, we must:

Take care of our physical and mental health:

The stress of change can be easily absorbed by a healthy mind and body. However, if you are already highly stressed, change can increase your likelihood of depression, anxiety and other stress-related illness.

Your life is going to change, sometime, in some way. To be better prepared for these inevitable events, be good to yourself. Gift your body gentle exercise. Eat sensibly. Take steps (whether they be lifestyle- or medically-based) to ensure that you are as healthy as you can be. The purpose here is to lower your daily levels of adrenaline and cortisol, so that any extra stress is more manageable.

Lose our mind:

The fear of change (which is actually a fear of the unknown) stems from your rational mind; that clever, logical part of your brain that likes to have the answers, and feel in control. Finding ways to quieten your mind through meditative and mindfulness practices can help you find a calmer, more instinctive approach to life. In this deeper well of your mind, you can tap into faith, an unwavering sense of well-being and an ability to accept the unexpected.

Practice the purge:

Keeping your mind and your life less cluttered allows more space to manoeuvre when dealing with change. Take time regularly to evaluate the things that fill your space, life, home and time and give yourself permission to let go of what no longer feels uplifting, useful or necessary. This refers to possessions and objects around the home, but it is also important to review and purge habits, hobbies, jobs … and even friendships/relationships.

Make friends with our discomfort zone:

In my family, we love the word exfrighted. Change — especially the uninvited kind — can create feelings of fear, unworthiness and doubt. But, it can sure as hell be truly exciting at the same time! Make friends with your discomfort zone; practice the art of working within instability and ambiguity. Step out of your comfort zone once in a while and do an activity that scares you, just a little. Regular forays into the unknown and untested allow you to become more familiar with the unfamiliar, stretch your comfort zone and, importantly, learn to trust your own resilience in times of stress.

Change is going to happen in your life — whether slowly and stealthily, or like a bolt from the blue. We may fear change sometimes, or even resent it — these feelings can be perfectly natural and healthy — but it is neither natural nor healthy to resist, defy or deny life’s inevitable adjustments.

It is far better to accept this incredible force of growth and experience. In this way, we not only learn to ride the winds fearlessly, wherever they may take us, we can also become the masters of change, anticipating and steering life’s adjustments into positive and purposeful progress.

Kim Forrester is an award-winning author, educator and intuitive consultant with over 15 years’ experience as a professional intuitive and spiritual teacher. She combines cutting edge science with traditional spirituality to offer the latest understandings of psi, consciousness and holistic well being.