UCanMakeItIfYouTry – Dealing With Change
Change is so difficult for many to deal with. Use these tips to help you in dealing with change.
1 – Acceptance
This is probably the biggest step and the most necessary one. Accept that life will always be changing. It’s the one true thing you can depend on above all else. When you and your friends were hanging out in high school, it all changed when you graduated. There are and will be plenty more examples throughout your life.
2 – Don’t Get Too Comfortable
The biggest changes seem to always happen when we are content or comfortable. While there may not be scientific evidence to back this up, you should always be ready for anything that comes your way. When you are comfortable in your situation is when you let your guard down which makes it more of a shock when something does change.
3 – Talk About Your Feelings Towards Change
People tend to let things build up inside. They don’t talk about their situations, or if they do, they don’t talk to the right people. If the changes are at work, for instance, consider talking to your manager about the impact of those changes. Managers are human beings, despite what people otherwise believe. Present your concerns in a professional manner and try not to flare up your anger, even if it isn’t directed at your manager. Bear in mind that your manager may be dealing with the changes much the same as you are.
4 – Try to Turn the Change in Your Favor
The phrase, “turn lemons into lemonade”, has widely been overused. However, it’s hard to deny the meaning of it and the impact from that meaning. If you are dealing with change, in one form or another, see what angles you can use to make it work to your benefit.
5 – Keep Changes You Can Control to a Minimum
If you try to enact too many changes at once, it may overwhelm the people who are affected by them. People need time to absorb those changes and incorporate them into their lives. If you bombard them with a bunch of changes, they will likely rebel, and you will be left picking up the pieces. Sometimes, the changes you put into place, can’t be helped. But, if you do have control over them, try to introduce them slowly over time.
6 – Join Support Groups
Some changes will impact people where they need the support of others. This can happen when death strikes or some long-term illness. It could be trying to give up a type of addiction, etc. There may be other types of changes where people need to reach out. Seek out the help of others who are going through similar circumstances as you are.
7 – Trust Your Instincts
People may be forced into situations or decisions that go against what they believe in. If you find yourself in such a situation, it’s best to go with your gut or trust your instincts. If the change doesn’t feel right and you have no power to counter it, try to remove yourself from the situation if you feel strongly about it.
8 – Change Can Lead to Unforeseen Opportunities
This goes in line a bit with the lemonade from lemons, but when you start to focus on change being something that is good, opportunities will be more open to you. They have a way of finding you. These opportunities may not have presented themselves had the changes not occurred.
ACTIONABLE STEPS
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Forcibly make more changes in your life to get used to dealing with change. This could be something as simple as signing up for a gym membership and actually using it. |
Handle anything you are required to do because of changes that have taken place. As an example, if you have been let go by your company, make sure you create a budget that can help you survive the possibility of extended unemployment.
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Think back to recent changes that you have had to deal with. List several items (if possible) where you would have handled those situations differently than you did.
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- About the Author
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James Donaldson
Former Owner and Director of The Donaldson Clinic (an outpatient physical therapy clinic)
James completed a 20 year professional basketball career in the spring of 2000. James established The Donaldson Clinic in (January 1990 – 2018) (shortly after a career threatening knee injury) with an idea that he would eventually become a physical therapist. He is a strong advocate for Women & Minority owned businesses and is very involved with various Chambers of Commerce. He understands what it takes to sustain a strong business environment that is conducive to the success of businesses overall.
James is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the N.B.A. with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks and Utah Jazz. He also played for several in Spain, Italy and Greece of the European Leagues plus toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an N.B.A. All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac – 10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
He now devotes the majority of his time to various community activities, and toward the Gift of Life Foundation, speaking on mental health awareness and suicide prevention. James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, youth groups and is the author of the published “Standing Above the Crowd” of which you can learn more about at www.standingabovethecrowd.com and is available for sale now.
In 2021, James published Celebrating Your Gift of Life: From the Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy. www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com
James is a 40+ year resident of Seattle. He believes in being a role model of success and professionalism for the scores of young people that he devotes so much of his time to. He currently serves on several Boards and/or committees and is a member of many organizations. (Please see complete listing on back)
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win – Win” environment for everyone involved, and being the best he can be!