Not only do we live in a time of unprecedented change, but
changes we’re experiencing are happening at a faster and faster rate. The telephone, radio and TV took decades to be placed into common use. Now time it takes from invention to widespread usage is just a few years sometimes months!Our lives are significantly unlike that of our parents’. We think differently, act differently, travel differently, and we work differently. Virtually everything about how we interact with world around us has changed in just one generation.
We’re bombarded with new ideas, new systems, new jobs, new technologies and new opportunities. The more we learn, more we realize how small our personal store of knowledge is in comparison to vast universe of data.
Most of change we’re experiencing is appreciated. We like most of what we see happening. While we enjoy many of these changes, there are other changes that are not so warmly embraced. There’s more uncertainty, less confidence and as a result more stress.
I’m a recreational sailor. There’s hardly anything I enjoy more than being out on water with wind in my sails. Sailing has taught me many things. Not least of which is a healthy respect for wind. You have absolutely no control over wind only way you use it. You must master your ability to handle wind, regardless how hard it blows or which direction it blows.
And change is like wind. It’s neither good nor bad. It just is.
But how we feel about change our attitudes toward it will have much to do with how well we navigate this turbulent sea of change. If we dislike change, resist it, ignore it or resent it, we will lose.
On other hand, if we use it to our advantage, we’ll benefit from it.
What’s your attitude toward change? What are your beliefs about change we see around us and change that surely lies ahead? When faced with something new and different, do you long for old way or do you look for what advantages this may bring to you, your family, your business.
Your answer may be different based upon type of change you face.
Choice or no choice If new situation is to your liking or a result of your own choosing, you will likely have a different reaction than if change seems forced upon you a new responsibility at work, a shopping mall going in next door or your spouse telling you they want a divorce.
On other hand, more power you feel you have over a given situation, easier it is to handle.
Recognize change Author Phillip McGrath is fond of saying and he’s right, "You cannot change what you don’t acknowledge." Oftentimes we’re slow to realize or even fail to recognize changes that occur. We need to look at what’s happening and acknowledge what we need to change in ourselves in order to adapt to changes around us.
