Many times throughout life, we’re confronted with change. When we graduated from high school and college, we were faced with huge changes. Our life before graduation was the same year after year: classes, teachers, books, homework, and friends. After high school, many friends went their separate ways.
Some of us continued the same old routine of classes, teachers, books, and homework, but in a new location, perhaps far from home and what was familiar. We made new friends, while trying to keep in touch with old friends. Of course, it’s easier now, thanks to social media. But back in the day, when we went away to college, it was easier to lose track of friends. Even those of us who wanted to hold on to our comfort zones learned to accept the changes and to begin moving into adulthood.
Isn’t it similar now, but at a faster pace? How did we manage back then? Can we take a look back and learn from it? But there’s a big difference then compared to now. Then we had our whole lives to look forward to, and it seemed scary at the time. Now, we have a lot less to look forward to, and it’s also scary. Back then, we faced our fears and moved forward. That’s also what we need to do now. Do we have a choice?
How Did We Make Changes in the Past?
How did we do it when we were younger? Step-by-step, we moved out of our comfort zone. We tried out one thing and then another until we found a new comfort zone. Now we need to move step-by-step into our new, and final, phase of life. But this time, should we be looking for a new comfort zone?
As we move into uncertainty, we often do so facing fears. Some suggest converting feelings of fear or anxiety into excitement and enthusiasm toward the change. A speech professor told students to think of their fear of speaking as excitement. Then to use the excitement to generate enthusiasm for the topic. It works. Thinking of energy as enthusiasm instead of fear give a different perspective. It helps manage the fear. Perhaps to be aging, we need to face change with a new perspective, embracing it with enthusiasm. Or at least, a lot less anxiety and fear.
We need change to get to the next place in life.
What Do You Think?
How are you facing change? How are you embracing it? What emotions do you feel when you’re facing change (fear, resentment, doubt, excitement, anxiety, enthusiasm)? How can you effectively manage those emotions?
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