In the words of prolific British novelist Arnold Bennett, "Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts." So if you find change difficult to handle, you're not alone; many others grapple with both the benefits and challenges brought about by change. Take solace in the fact that change happens to everyone everyday; it's the one constant in life, the thing that connects us all.
Perhaps life has handed you a challenging change, or maybe you've initiated a change you've always wanted to make. At First30Days, we believe that the change you're currently experiencing can be made easier, smoother and less stressful; we're going to share proven tips and techniques to help you cope with this change—be it a career change, relationship change, health change or financial change—with hope, optimism and serenity..
At First30Days, we've developed nine principles, or secrets, to help you move through change to reach your destination successfully. We believe that creating an entirely new perspective on change—a new mindset about the transitions you face—will help you become a "Change Optimist" and love your life even more.
1. Change Your View of Change: Beliefs Can Make all the Difference
The things that you believe about change—and about yourself—will directly affect how successfully you move through your current transition, whether you're in day one, day 30 or years past the start of the change.
People who fear change usually believe that change is hard, which lays bare all of their anxieties and insecurities. They then feel paralyzed and unable to move past this change for fear of failure. On the other hand, there are people who believe that change is a positive thing that will help them grow and learn. These "Change Optimists" also believe that something exciting is waiting for them on the other side of the transition—even if they can't see the benefit now.
The good news is: we can identify and bust the myths and fears we have about change. Don't ask the traditional disempowering questions during change, such as "Why did this happen to me?" and "How will I ever get through this?" Kick-start a new belief about change with a few new questions, like "What could be great about this change?," "What opportunity has this change brought to me?," "What good things in my life haven't changed?" and "What can I be grateful for?" When you ask these positive questions, you'll notice your outlook on change beginning to shift to the positive.
2. The Change Guarantee™: From This Situation, Something Good Will Come
Even though it's hard to imagine while you're in the middle of a change, the transition you're going through is opening up your life and leading you toward a brighter future. Every change will eventually bring something good into your life: This is the Change Guarantee. It may not be how, what or when they expect, but those who navigate change successfully know that it always brings a gift into their lives.
Maybe you've been fired and unemployed for months; it's likely that a new, rewarding career is on your horizon. Maybe you've divorced and believe that you'll never fall in love again; it's possible that the best relationship of your life is right around the corner. Perhaps you've had a heart attack; by permanently changing the way you eat and exercise, you're in for the best years of your life. Your current change is already working to lead you to a brighter future.
3. The Change Muscle™: You're Stronger than You Think
Those who successfully move through change know they're resilient, strong and capable of getting through anything. There's something within every human being that supports us and keeps us alive and moving forward: We're born with a will to survive, a will to heal and a will to be happier and feel good again. Your Change Muscle is the strength that's created from all of the changes that you've been through—the big changes, small changes, unexpected changes and the changes you, yourself, have initiated.
Change gets easier the more we live through it. Our brains and bodies tend to remember the last time we experienced change—recalling that it didn't kill us. When we take the time to look back, we remember that something positive eventually came from it, as well. Reinforce the strength of your Change Muscle by creating a Change Resume™, a private document that lists all of the changes that you've already lived through. Include changes big and small—from switching schools or moving to a new city to surviving a serious accident or getting divorced. Every change, both positive and challenging, will strengthen your Change Muscle and help you get through the change you're experiencing today—and the changes you will certainly face in the future.
