When you think of change, what comes to mind first? Do you think of change as a good, positive thing causing excitement and elation or does it cause you to stress and worry about what may be coming next? Stressing out about all the things that could go wrong, overthinking, thinking negatively or regret are all things that may come to mind.
Life events like getting a new job, starting a new relationship, or moving to a new home are all changes that most people happily embrace. For others, especially those who struggle with depression or anxiety, even the most positive changes can cause a lot of stress. Changes like retiring from a career that has been your life for many years, the death of a loved one, divorce, or moving to a place where you may be alone for the first time in your life, are all significant life changes. These changes may take you some time to adjust, but doing a few simple things may help to make the transition go more smoothly.
- Embrace the change. It allows you to change old habits into better ones. Seeing things through a new and different lens can make the change less scary.
- A leap of faith can be a good thing. Starting a new career, family, or at a new school can bring about new possibilities that you may have ignored if you weren’t ready for change.
- Change helps to spice up our lives and break out of the rut of everyday life that may be causing us stress and anxiety. This can open us up to new adventures and teach us to set attainable goals.
- Choosing to accept the present, especially in the loss of a loved one or job, or a recent divorce can help make the healing process less painful and help reassure us that those bad times will not last forever.
- Change can help with personal and emotional growth. When we reach a point that we know we need something or someone more, we are open to improving the quality of our life and becoming more resilient.
- Sometimes making a small change is all we need to do to start motivating ourselves in the right direction. So, take it one day at a time, one step at a time. Gandhi is most famously quoted as saying “Be the change you wish to see in others.”
Sometimes a small change, like changing the way you view something, will be the motivator you need to look at things in a different way. Be open to the possibility that a change in your life will lead to a better life. If you accept that change is inevitable, you will be more likely to accept that change.
Take the time to reflect on whether change is your friend or your foe. If you are ready to seek help and make a positive change in your life regarding things like past trauma, depression, or anxiety, reach out to Counseling Works to schedule a session with one of our counselors. This can be the first step toward making change your friend!
Written By: Counseling Works
