5 Ways To Navigate Change

Here is the constant truth: no matter how it happens or how wanted or unwanted, expected or unexpected it is, change is never easy. It will at some point bring up your drama, your perceived limitations and your old arguments. So if you’re in the middle of a big change, know that this is all part of the process, yet it doesn’t mean it’s easy to navigate.The trick is to stay present as best as you can while you’re holding space for your feelings, fine-tuning your resilience, and meeting yourself with patience as you recalibrate to your new reality. 

 “There is no right way to show up in moments of great change, only accompanying yourself with as much understanding as you can muster.”
— Chani Nicholas

As I’m navigating some major changes in my life these days, I’ve found that these 5 strategies have been very helpful to me, especially when it all gets very chaotic and unpredictable:

1- Drop the resistance:
This is probably the hardest part for most of us. Your first instinct when confronted with change is often to want to fight or resist. Allow yourself to sit with the uncertainty, no matter how uncomfortable (and it will be very uncomfortable). See if you can accept the way things are and open yourself to the possibility of opportunity and growth. I know from experience that fighting your own resistance is not only futile, it will often set you back.

2- Acknowledge your feelings:
what if you were present for what you’re feeling right now?
Notice that. Get curious about it instead of making it wrong. Notice what you’re really needing. What emotional strengths can you tap?
Change isn’t easy. Even positive change can feel challenging. Instead of forcing yourself to react a certain way, honor the way you’re feeling in each moment. Holding space for our emotions allows us to cultivate the acceptance, compassion and ease we need to navigate the swirls.

3- Make time for yourself:
You cannot keep up momentum, build capacity for change or do your best when you are tired, worn out or overwhelmed.Take time out, share your experience, seek support if you need it and allow people to step up for you. They would want to help. Invest in some quiet time. Once a week, once a day — 10 minutes or 2 hours — whatever you need to feel relaxed and able to hear yourself think. 

4- Lean on your resilience:
Consider the big changes you’ve moved through in your life. Even if change hasn’t felt positive to begin with, chances are that moving out of your comfort zone has been where you’ve learnt and grown the most. You’ve got through it before, you’ll be okay this time too.

5- View Change as an initiation:
Change is welcoming you to something new and different in life. You’re transitioning from one phase of life to another in some form.  If you begin to reframe the way you conceptualize the change process as moving from one stage to the next, it may become easier to let go of current circumstances and welcome your initiation into the next phase of life. Reflect upon all that you have learned from your current phase in life and embrace the possibilities and lessons that lie ahead.

Major life changes provide you with the opportunity to practice detachment and letting go.  Depending upon the type of life change you’re facing, your process of letting go may mean letting go of the past, of how things used to be, of grief or of your old relationship. Allow yourself to grieve the undeniable loss that accompanies all major life changes.  Even positive changes have loss associated with them, as you are moving from one phase of life to the next.  Embrace the freedom that comes along with choosing to let go of the past and embrace the present.

When life becomes unpredictable, remind yourself of this truth; the only constant in life is change.
Much love,
Nousha 
xx