| We
are living in exciting age of unprecedented change. Today's
accelerated rate of change presents us with unique challenges
and opportunities. When change brings success, keep your
ego from getting out of hand. When the change is negative,
use your sense of humor to get through it. Once you learn
to handle change, you can take your skills, talents, and
abilities and help others change. Let's look at four ways
to enhance your mastery of change.
1.
Don't Fight It.
The
natural tendency is to protect what you know and value,
what has become familiar and comfortable. Unfortunately
the world will change with or without you. So you must
adapt again and again. You make your life so much more
complicated when you fight the change. You cause yourself
stress and can actually become ill. Remember the old
Serenity Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept
the things I cannot change, The courage to change the
things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.
2.
You don't have to like the Change.
No
one ever said you have to like the changes you are experiencing.
However, you do have to understand them so you can progress.
Study, explore, and read everything you can about the
current matters that affect your perception and handling
of change. Life is not always about "liking." It is
about doing the best you can, with what you you've got
and getting on with it--right now!
3.
Know what to defend against change.
There
are some things we should resist changing because change
does not always translate into better. Change for the
sake of change alone can destroy valuable situations,
assets, and relationships. Many values deserved to be
defended. Ask yourself what you will change and what
you will defend.
4.
Have a Sense of Humor.
Humor
can give you a momentary "emotional vacation." A sense
of humor can conquer pretense, and diffused anger and
hostility. It can take an impossible situation and change
it into an acceptable one. The old axiom, "if you take
yourself too seriously, no one else will," is key. The
most effective people are spontaneous and can use humor
to express their feelings, and to encourage others.
When
you set out to be a change master and to make a difference
in this world, there is no guarantee that it will be
easy. By learning about change, serving others and helping
them to learn to change, you will indeed be making a
difference.
To
learn more about Sheila Murray Bethel's audios,
books and speaking schedule, visit www.YourSuccessStore.com. © Copyright
Bethel Institute 2000 |