Change-if it were easy (or fun) we would all be “making changes for the better” continually. But it’s not. Most of us don’t have strong “change skills.” As humans we differ from our pets (or at least my pets) only in scale to our aversions to change. The furniture moves, or the dog gate moves, and one of my dogs is a bit concerned about it. Luckily I am more flexible than that! We all know that change can be a good thing. Usually, we feel better about change when we choose it, not much feels good when it is thrust expectantly upon us. So, the tricky part is knowing you have the power and choose! We all know the saying, Want new results? Then you have to change something!
In doing some internet research for this post, I found what I think is a good article about change. Most of you readers (I assume) are not looking at immediate grand changes, but I think these are useful tips for us all. Since I am indeed facing many changes, I find these concepts helpful. I hope you do as well.
“7 reasons embracing change can be a good thing.” Is the name of the article and it is from a website I never heard of before today, but I do love their name- Attitude is Altitude.
“1. Change helps you grow
2. Change teaches you to be flexible
3. Change can challenge your values and beliefs
4. Change reveals your strengths
5. Change makes you more compassionate.
6. Change breaks up routines
7. Change offers opportunities”
If you want to read the whole article…
But wait…there’s more!
The other piece of important stuff in my head today are words from Sheryl Sandberg (Facebook COO and the widow of Dave Goldberg) who gave a powerful speech at UC Berkeley’s commencement about resilience and loss. I think, change, resilience and loss are all often closely connected. Change is nearly impossible unless you have resilience and loss makes you face it all and forces change. Here are a few snippets from her words.
“…After spending decades studying how people deal with setbacks, psychologist Martin Seligman found that there are three Ps— personalization, pervasiveness, and permanence— that are critical to how we bounce back from hardship.”
“….Because today marks the end of one era of your life and the beginning of something new…”
“I learned that in the face of the void—or in the face of any challenge—you can choose joy and meaning…”
“Lessons about hope, strength, and the light within us that will not be extinguished…”
“The easy days ahead of you will be easy. It is the hard days—the times that challenge you to your very core—that will determine who you are. You will be defined not just by what you achieve, but by how you survive…”
“…live with the understanding of how precious every single day would be. How precious every day actually is…”
“Option A is not available. So let’s just kick the shit out of option B.”
“So what do we do next?…Lift each other up, help each other kick the shit out of option B—and celebrate each and every moment of joy. .. ”
and now back to my own words…
Easier siad then done-but good words all around.
Look for the good and the positive-then let the changes begin!
