The Psychology of Change: Why We Fear It and How to Overcome It”

What does it mean to change? Change means to alter, vary, or modify something in our lives, or become different. Change is the only thing that is constant in this world.

Change is a sustained reinforcement of new behaviours and thinking patterns. Changing who you are or how you behave or face situations in life may be possible through a collective understanding of attitudes, habits, behaviours, and personality traits. Through change, we learn resilience.

The sooner you learn to adapt to change from an early age it will be easier to make decisions, adapt to life situations, face challenges and accept failures, and take quantum leaps in your life.

Change happens at every juncture, and most of us fear it. Change was difficult for me at first because I was suddenly thrown into situations where life was very uncomfortable and I saw no end to my misery. As I matured, I changed my thinking and learned to look at the change or challenge as a puzzle in a book I had to find a solution for.

Why do we fear change? How do we overcome it? Here is what I have learned after having gone through so many changes in my life:

1. Educate yourself — Sometimes uncertainty and lack of knowledge feed our fears. Talk to people, read up, and understand about the change.

2. Acknowledge your emotions — it’s normal to feel anxiety, uncertainty, and fear when faced with change. Acknowledging your emotions is the first step in managing them. You are afraid of failure and making mistakes.

3. Shift Your Perspective: Mistakes are all part of growing up and life itself. To err is human. What I have learned is that it’s not a mistake until you decide it is one. Recognize that change can lead to new experiences, skills, and perspectives. By shifting your mindset and turning around the situation you can quickly stand back up again on your feet

4. Set Realistic Goals: Sometimes it is difficult to understand such a big change but it helps to break it down into smaller steps and understand what we need to change, at every juncture.

5. Practice Mindfulness: It’s very easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of things when you are making a decision but it is essential to slow down, take a breath, have a coffee, and see the world pass by to put things into perspective.

6. Visualize Success: Sometimes life forces you into situations and quick decisions must be made. So long as you feel the decision is positive and does not go against the positive energy of the world. It will be fine. Imagine a positive outcome and the benefits that change can bring. Visualizing success can boost your confidence and motivation.

7. Learn from Past Experiences: Reflect on past changes in your life and how you managed them. Identify the strategies that worked and apply them to the current situation.

8. Stay Flexible. Change means everything you know is going to be turned upside down. With change, a lot of normal routine is also going to change and that is all part of adjusting to the new change.

9. Take Action: Proactively engage with the change rather than passively resisting it. Participate in decisions and take control where you can.

10. Set Realistic Expectations: Understand that change is a process that may take time. Don’t expect immediate results or a seamless transition.

Be patient with yourself. Change is a process, and it’s okay to have setbacks. Learn from them and keep moving forward.

Remember, everyone’s journey to overcome the fear of change is unique. The key is to develop a positive and adaptable mindset that allows you to confront change with resilience and openness. It’s a continuous process, and the more you practice, the better you’ll become at handling change effectively.