Other Strategies for Managing Stress and Change - Page 1 of 2
Working With Change as a Natural
Process
As you grow to understand the change process, you will find it
somewhat easier to let go of the pain of the past, use the openness
of the transition periods for redefining yourself, and welcome new
beginnings as an opportunity for growth. If you can identify these
phases as they surface, you can begin to be more patient with
yourself - and more focused on working through each phase. You can
also start looking for the "light at the end of the tunnel," since
you know that the change process will not last forever. This
understanding will enable you to be more compassionate and helpful to
others who are in various stages of their own growth process.
It is important that you also remember that not everyone experiences change in the same way. What is stressful to one person may not be stressful to another - or at least not equally stressful. Each person's unique perception is influenced by such factors as self-care skills, resilience, resources, values, feelings of control and previous track record in dealing with change. Whether you see a particular change as an unwelcome crisis or a fresh opportunity depends upon the meaning you attach to the change. Fortunately, we are not locked into one perceptual viewpoint. At any point in time, we can reassess our viewpoint, adjust our attitude, and make different choices.
If we have some control over the change in the first place, we
can plan for it, get ready for it, and set things up so that the
change will take place as smoothly as possible. If we are not the
ones initiating the change, we can take immediate steps to work with
the change, consider our options, and employ our best coping skills
to get through it.
