How to Cope with Change and Uncertainty
Recently, I conducted a poll on Tumblr. The results showed that 26.1% of respondents, the majority, selected ‘Coping With Change and Uncertainty’ as their top challenge.
We all have goals and aspirations, but unexpected changes in our environment or plans can lead to uncertainty and feeling of being overwhelmed by future tasks. Hence, impeding achievement.
The truth is, we all get to experience this at different stages in our lives. The only thing within our control is to decide on how to ‘live with them’ when they come. To either keep moving, breaking off the limits or wallow in stagnation.
So how do we prepare for uncertainties the future brings? How do we adapt to the unforgiving inevitable change?
The answer is simple: Seek Motivation, Be Motivated and Stay Motivated.
Seek Motivation: It is closer than you think!
Why is motivation important?
Motivation provides the optimism needed to navigate uncertainties and offers insight to embrace change.
A person without motivation is like someone stuck in a muddy swamp, waiting to drown. Motivation propels, supports, and sustains you through tough times. Motivation encourages you to rise and work, to keep moving and not give up.
But motivation goes beyond a mere combination of letters; it originates from our physiology, specifically a part of our physical body – the brain.
How does motivation work?
Researchers say that dopamine is the driver of motivation. It encourages us to act, to achieve whiles avoiding anything bad .
I’d spare you the complex details about brain nuclei and neurotransmission. However, it’s worth noting that dopamine must be released into specific parts of our brains for us to experience that burst of energy and ‘I-can-do’ spirit.
Where does motivation come from?
Motivation begins as a process within your brain. It primarily involves you, whether intrinsic (self-motivation) or extrinsic motivation. This is because ultimately, YOUR dopamine has to be released!
The question now is: What triggers the release of dopamine?
These triggers, which we also refer to as sources of motivation, are key to understanding the process.
Be Motivated: Be Triggered!
How do I get motivated?
Be activated by a source.
Now, let’s explore the sources of motivation.
Sources of Motivation
1. Self-Motivation
When you aim to accomplish tasks, remind yourself to release that dopamine! Yes, I mean it. Say it out loud.
Visualize your goals and have a mental conversation about achieving them. And then, embrace the positive emotions that comes from this process.
However, it’s important to acknowledge that self-motivation alone may not always be sufficient.
For instance, I recently faced a situation that was emotionally draining. Despite trying to motivate myself, the emotional pain resurfaced each time I thought about it. This was prove alone that self-motivation was not enough for me at that point.
The truth is that when you’re motivated, you no longer feel the pain or the ‘rough’ emotions, this is because your emotions would shift more towards positivity and that’s all you feel.
Notwithstanding, self-motivation should always be your first point of call, because that’s the closest and most accessible motivation we can get, from our own selves.
So when self motivation doesn’t feel enough, what do we do next?
2. Extrinsic motivation
Allow someone to talk to you, someone who will tell you the words you need to hear. These words should give you ‘chills’, chills potent enough to trigger a dopamine release and motivate you.
This person could communicate with you directly or indirectly through music, podcasts, books, blogs, articles, discussions, sermons, etc., as long as the motivation is not coming from you.
You must also note that with this, you’re actively involved, via cognitive resilience, you get motivated. Cognitive resilience is the ability to overcome the negative effects of setbacks and difficulties on cognitive function.
Research suggests that active listening enhances your cognitive resilience to difficulties, setbacks, and challenges. The insights you gain while listening are based on your interpretation and understanding, which then trigger the release of dopamine.
We’ve discussed how and why to seek motivation and how to be motivated.
But how do we stay motivated?
…to be continued…
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#justtrusttheprocess
