How do you view change? Do you thrive on it? Do you love variety in life? Do you dread it? Do you avoid it? Do you just flow with it? How do you feel when things change in your life? Some people adjust more quickly than others. Some people crave change, to the point of creating their own changes if life does not provide them often enough. Others dread it. They like things to remain the same. They like the consistency of life. Then there are those who do not necessarily crave change, however they adjust quickly and move on.
If you demand change in your life, you can risk creating drama when there is no need for it, just so things will be different. If you crave consistency in life you may fight against changes even when the changes are extremely beneficial to you. If you are a “go with the flow” type of person you may risk being apathetic about change and other areas of life. No one deals with change perfectly.
The key is being aware, knowing how you personally view and deal with change. Once you are aware, then comes the task of learning from the past, and adjusting to a better future concerning change. Change is inevitable. There is no getting around it. There is no avoiding it. If avoiding it is your normal response, during times of calm and consistency in your life, start adjusting your mental attitude toward the unavoidable coming changes. Be specific about ways you can prepare for the next adjustment life brings you. If you insist on frequent changes in your life just to stay sane, begin making a list of positive things you can do when life becomes more monotonous than you prefer. This will insure unnecessary drama is averted by your need for diversity. It will also give you the opportunity to create positive changes in your life you might not otherwise have.
Change will come. How will you deal with it when it does?
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” -Socrates
© Machelle Baker April 2014
Machelle is a native Texan who values liberty. She has homeschooled six of her children at some point during their educational experience. She continues to home educate the youngest two. One way she expresses her passion for helping others is as a Crisis Chaplain. Some of the disasters to which she has deployed and ministered at are: the Bastrop, TX wildfire (2011), the West, TX plant explosion (2013), the Moore, OK F5 tornado (2013), and the Central Texas flood (October 2013), the Memorial Day Blanco River flood (2015), Hurricane Harvey (2017), the Sutherland Springs church shooting (2017), and most recently the El Paso Wal-Mart shooting (2019). She also currently serves a Regional Deputy Commander for the International Fellowship of Chaplains.
April 9, 2014 @ 6:58 am
Change is good. I usually am pretty good with changes if I am aware of them. I am not so good when someone throws something at me I’m not expecting. I have to take a deep breath and pray for a moment to regain my thoughts and get them focused on a positive attitude.
April 16, 2014 @ 7:24 pm
Nikki, I don’t like curve balls either. It takes time for me to adjust to change. Let me know what’s happening. Then give me some time before discussing it with me. I’m good. Just throw it at me…not so much : )
Machelle Baker recently posted…Baby Steps: Planning
April 9, 2014 @ 9:44 am
I’m often not happy about change but I adapt easily and usually get over having change pretty quickly. I guess it comes from a lifetime of moving and having jobs that required innovation adaptions.
Arlee Bird recently posted…Heaven Is In Your Mind (#atozchallenge)
April 16, 2014 @ 7:25 pm
I’m slow to adjust. But I have gotten better over the years as I’ve recognized this weakness : )
Machelle Baker recently posted…Eggsellent (Non-Sugar) Easter Egg Fillers
April 9, 2014 @ 9:05 pm
I have to agree with Nikki. I tend to do better with change if I have some advanced notice before the change takes place. When younger change for me was exciting, but as I’ve gotten older, I don’t crave for change too much except for trying out a new restaurant. 🙂
Clara @A Slice of Homeschool Pie recently posted…Special Announcement
April 16, 2014 @ 7:27 pm
I do better with advance notice also. I have gotten better since I have become more aware of this challenge in my life. But it still isn’t easy.
Machelle Baker recently posted…New Year’s Resolutions: Reading & Writing