We are living in a VUCA (acronym for volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world with much uncertainty and rapid change, which can impact on your mental health and wellbeing. When change is beyond your circumstances, you don’t feel in control which can cause you to feel overwhelmed.
Life is constantly changing and moving forward. As quoted by Greek philosopher Heraclitus “Change is the only constant in life”. We often resist change because we are afraid of change. The more you resist, persists. As creatures of habit we like being in our comfort zone. But if we do the same old, then we will always get the same results. The key to change is to accept and adapt.
Feel the fear and do it anyway
One of the barriers to change is fear. Fear keeps you stuck and stops you from moving forward. When you examine fear, it is only a projected image of what you anticipate might happen. Therefore, you associate a lot of pain with it.
Everything you have ever wanted in life is on the other side of fear. That’s where magic happens in life. Therefore, you have to face your fears head on. You will only ever regret the chances that you didn’t take in life, so never wonder ‘what if’, just do it! The only worst thing that could ever happen is that you remain stuck and never try. If you don’t take risks, you will never know what you are capable of achieving. If you knew you wouldn’t fail at anything, what would you do in life?
Focus on not fighting the old, but building the new
Once you embrace the new, it will open you up to new experiences in life and could surprise you in turning out to be more enjoyable than you thought it could be.
The quicker you let go of the old, you will find and attract the new because you have created that space. The quicker you let go, the less painful it will feel.
When you change your beliefs, you change what you do and change your life
Take a step back and look at the situation objectively. Imagine what the new looks like and embrace it. New beliefs will encourage new behaviours. Focus on the positives and the benefits to your life for they will be there. This will regain your strength and make you feel more empowered.
You are the controller of your mind and thoughts
External things can influence your thinking, but ultimately you are in control of your thoughts and actions. Check-in with yourself every day to see where your thoughts are leading you. By developing self-awareness, it will unable you to stay on track and in a positive mental state. Observe your thoughts without criticism. Treat yourself with compassion and kindness.
Keep moving and keep taking action
Change is constant so be ready to change quickly, enjoy it and keep moving forward. Have a plan. Keep taking action and keep changing your approach until you get the right results.
And finally, always seek support when needed. Never be afraid to ask for help. During changing and challenging times, invest in your mental, emotional and physical everyday.