When You Know "B"
Since we're transitioning into a new season, we thought now would be a good time to take a look at change--something that might come easily to Mother Nature, but rarely comes naturally to us. It's something we've always had to work at, and it's not always easy to accept. Sometimes it's planned, and sometimes it just happens, whether we're ready or not. Here are four things to keep in mind when we're confronted with change:
1) Rethink change - It's not always as scary as we make it out to be
Even if what's beginning is better than what's ending, we don't always see it that way. We can't touch it, feel it, experience it, or control it--at least we don't think so. But change has a pattern, and recognizing that pattern makes it easier to conceptualize and predict not only the change itself, but the transition process.
2) Know where change is coming from
Identifying the source of change brings it into sharper focus for us. It helps to know what's causing something "new." The farther away the source, the more angst we tend to have. For example, we're typically more comfortable with change from or to a specific task or project, but changes resulting from a more institutional level are daunting because it's more distanced from what we can control, and even bigger changes like, oh let's say a pandemic, are even more daunting and far away.
3) It'll be finite
Know that even though the transition into something new seems unstable or uncertain, it will level out. Giving change a name, understanding the specifics, like what's ending and what's beginning, and outlining a transition plan for how you'll get there, make change seem more do-able.
4) Transition ≠ Change
While transition and change are related to each other, they aren't exactly synonymous. In some senses, the transitional process is more important than the change itself, because without it, we can get lost or stuck in the old without a bridge to the new. Keep trying to answer "How will I/we get there?"
Change is never quick, and it's rarely easy, but keep these four things in mind and know that change takes practice. How about you? How do you manage change? Let us know in the comments or on social!
