Anxiety of Change
Posted: Monday, July 06, 2009
by Sandra E. Graham
My Books and Articles
If any thing can make your stomach churn with acid, do flip-flops, and make you nauseated, it is the fear of the unknown-the fear of change. Everyone has his or her own private safety net. And if that net is taken away, it can wreak havoc with a person's world of stability.
Whether it is something minor, such as choosing a new car, or something major such as changing jobs or buying a new home in a totally new location, change can bring about such a tremendous upheaval in a person's life as to make one physically as well as emotionally ill.
We all go through life making decisions and making our own mistakes-no one can make them for us (in most cases, at any rate). Fear of making a wrong decision, keeps many people from taking a path that may very well be the most successful change they could ever make. For some people change comes easily, while for others, it can be more than they can handle. These people prefer to stay safely wrapped in their warm cocoon of the old and familiar.
We need to change the way we look at things, because nothing in life can be permanent except what you choose not to change. Charles Darwin once said, "It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."
If we allow the anxiety and stress from the fear of change to rule our lives, we will lose in more ways than one. As the world changes, we will be left behind; our lives will become stagnant ruts that we can't get out of; we will miss the chance to have a better life, better jobs, better relationships, and the chance to grow. Winston Churchill said, "To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often."
You don't have to be one of the world's great leaders to know that there is a time when you have to take the plunge and just let the chips fall where they may. If it is a major change, then you may want to list the pros and cons of the move and weigh the consequences of each. But whichever way your decision moves you, know that the world won't end if you've made a bad decision. Just learn from it and move on. Change is often difficult, but sometimes it is essential to survival; because when you're through changing; you're through.
Whether it is something minor, such as choosing a new car, or something major such as changing jobs or buying a new home in a totally new location, change can bring about such a tremendous upheaval in a person's life as to make one physically as well as emotionally ill.
We need to change the way we look at things, because nothing in life can be permanent except what you choose not to change. Charles Darwin once said, "It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."
If we allow the anxiety and stress from the fear of change to rule our lives, we will lose in more ways than one. As the world changes, we will be left behind; our lives will become stagnant ruts that we can't get out of; we will miss the chance to have a better life, better jobs, better relationships, and the chance to grow. Winston Churchill said, "To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often."
You don't have to be one of the world's great leaders to know that there is a time when you have to take the plunge and just let the chips fall where they may. If it is a major change, then you may want to list the pros and cons of the move and weigh the consequences of each. But whichever way your decision moves you, know that the world won't end if you've made a bad decision. Just learn from it and move on. Change is often difficult, but sometimes it is essential to survival; because when you're through changing; you're through.
We shrink from change; but is there anything that can come into being without it?
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Sandra you are right on the mark with this article. I am one who really hates change, unless I see the reason for the change immediately. But, that is not how life goes. Good article.Well, Lorrie, I must say that I am the right opposite. I have always liked change and looked forward to it all through my working life. I always wanted to learn new things just so that I could do something different.Thanks for reading and commenting.SandraSo often change has meant something bad, a job loss, a death so often when I think of change, I think of those kinds of change. A new job, a new home, a desired move to a new city, all those have been good changes, but still sometimes have brought anxiety. How funny, as optimistic as I usually am, I immediately thought of bad changes.
I am on the cusp of big changes and can totally relate to your comments in this article. Informative and wildly accurate! Thanks, JulianThank you, Julian. And welcome to Searchwarp.SandraI am not quite new to Serchwarp Sandra but you could be forgiven for thinking so, I dont get the chance to post often! Thank you anyway though :)
Hello Sandra,
Sage wisdom in this article. My new motto is, "Do it afraid." The last question in your article explains why. "We shrink from change; but is there anything that can come into being without it?"
All the best with your new home! Blessings to you.
Avis
Thanks, Avis. This will be a major change for us. We have lived in the country for many years and now we're moving into town--I almost can't believe it myself!I'm looking forward to this change, I truly believe it is for the best.Sandra
I am not a fan of 'change, but I know it is necessary. In our 36 years of marriage, my wife and I have moved nine times, which consisted of six different towns and two different countries. The positive side is that we have shared many great experiences because of the changes and have gained many great friends along the way.
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