How to transform your fear of change into your biggest asset !
We all know and experience the fact that changing is difficult.
When we are in our comfort zone, where we know our environment very well, have multiple habits and routines that we have been built over years, introducing even slight changes may be difficult and met with resistance.
We may need to learn new techniques and acquire new competencies, or get familiar with a new country or a new home and be obliged to get out of our comfort zone.
And, of course, the more we will have been static in the last years the worse it will be.
And I know what I am talking about. I was never a big fan of change but in recent years life has forced me to change quite a number of things and at the very beginning it was far more difficult for me than I had imagined. What has really helped me was progressively accepting the level of stress associated with the changes, considering it as temporary and being part of the process.
Staying in the comfort zone and thinking that everything will be fine is an illusion.
As we are permanently confronted to changes that we need to cope with, and also because it will not enable us to grow our self confidence.
Entering into the stretch zone will bring multiple benefits as you can see on the diagram above.
To make the most out of the situation, we shall have to accept that we are stressed and may experience physical discomfort. Of course, we may be tempted to come back to « normal », and our internal talk will be key to manage the situation.
Remembering the benefits we can achieve there and the reasons why we are doing this coupled with positive thoughts on our ability to cope should help us bring stress to a level where it is stimulating instead of overwhelming.
The more we get used to stretch ourselves, the easier it will be, and the quicker we shall build new habits and routines and consider that stretching zone as our new comfort zone.
When we feel that the changes are too important, our level of stress can be too high and overwhelming. Our brain will automatically enter into a fight or flight mode to protect us from this dangerous unknown situation and our ability to think clearly will be considerably reduced.
The only way to get out of the panic zone and back into the stretch zone, is by reducing our level of stress to reactivate the neocortex area again by focusing on our bodily sensations and more precisely on the breath.
A couple of deep belly breaths will enable the parasympathetic system to take the lead again and enable us to slow down and evaluate the situation differently.
Now I have learned that those changes were a driver for my self development and my level of confidence. I know now how to live with moments of stress and treat them as normal events that are part of the process and even sometimes using them to know where to focus my energy.