We can begin to relieve our fear of change by understanding it better and by practicing to lessen those fears. In this post, you’ll have a chance to consider a few strategies to help manage that worry and nervousness.
If change and uncertainty make you feel nervous or fearful, you are human. We are hardwired to resist change. Part of the brain interprets change as a threat – which triggers the release of hormones for fear, fight, or flight. Our body is actually trying to protect us from change! This is a very old pattern from humanity’s beginnings.
Change also implies that the outcome is unknown and possibly out of our control. When we don’t know what will happen, we make up a story in our head, usually one that doesn’t end well, and in turn, we create worry.
This strategy again goes back to our human ancestors, who needed structure and routine for safety and survival. Changes were threatening, so we find comfort in routine, even when we think it is boring.
So, how do we deal with these realities of how our mind habitually works? Here are some ideas to try out:
#1 – Accept What is Happening
Ok, I agree that at first, “accepting” seems impossible because we just said that our brain is signaling us to run away from change when it happens. But now that you know that a part of your discomfort is a reaction to feeling uncertain, you actually have a new choice. You can choose to directly experience the change, as a situation that is happening (whether you like it or not). When you look at what is happening rather than running away, you now can decide to consciously move in a different direction, or to investigate it further. Either way, you are now more in control and less in reactive mode. That leads us to our next possibility….
#2 – Control What You Can
When you are dealing with changes that feel particularly out of your control, you need to take some action to reduce the worry and distress that can arise. You may not have the answer to the problem itself immediately, but there are always actions you can take. For example – if you’ve recently lost your job, you can start making lists of your dream jobs, make an inspiration board and talk to mentors and colleagues about next steps. Being in action increases your sense of control and decreases your anxiety level.
#3 – Connect with Others
Everyone knows that change is hard…so everyone you know is potential support when going through a change. When you voice your discomfort to someone you trust, you are getting your fears out of your head and into a shared space. That can be an amazing release for the anxious thoughts that you were holding onto.
In this post we have learned that it is our human nature to fear change. However, life is unpredictable, so it is important to learn how to accept the unknown, control what we can and connect with others to help us overcome our fears and act.
