Adapting to Change

Along with death and taxes, one of the absolute guarantees in life is change. Sometimes change is so subtle we don’t even notice it’s happening all around us. Sometimes change happens like a steam roller crashing through every obstacle that gets in its way as it hurtles down the highway.

One thing is for certain, whether you notice it or not, change is happening every moment of every day and if you have difficulty with change, it can make your life a bit of a bumpy ride.

The inability to be flexible and adapt to change is often one of the main reasons many people have a difficult time reaching their true potential. They insist on clinging to ideas and procedures that have become a thing of the past and rigidly maintain their right to continue living in the past.

There are many examples of this throughout history. Remember the guy who insisted that people talking in movies was just a fad that wouldn’t last? Or the people who were absolutely certain that no one in their right mind would abandon their horse and buggy for those new-fangled automobiles?

On a personal level, some people tend to focus on how bad their lives have been because of their mistakes. As a result, they remain stuck in a self-fulfilling prophecy that maintains their miserable life because they can’t get past the idea they’re a failure. This is where easily adapting to change can really come in handy. With just a slight change in their way of thinking, all could be good again. All they have to do is realize that it’s always better to learn from their mistakes and then just forget about them, and move on.

If you treat your mistakes as lessons, and apply them as learning references in your future endeavors, then the reward will be ongoing growth and the ability to adjust to whatever change comes along.

Yes, if you invested in a business and lost a ton of money it isn’t a pleasant experience. For some people this situation would have them remain deeply discouraged for a long time, so much so that their personal lives are affected in a negative way. They stop eating and may just stare at the ceiling all night wondering and worrying and berating themselves for screwing up. It may even cause them to vow not to take risks in the future or venture into new opportunities that may come along.

In this situation it’s far better to adjust and adapt and accept the loss. Really, it is. You can’t go back and change the past, so why not just accept it, vow to learn from the mistakes and get on with your life. Otherwise, you may miss new opportunities that could have the opposite outcome.

In other words, if you keep trying, at least you get a 50% chance of succeeding. But if you don’t try at all, you have absolutely no chance.

Let’s fast forward into the future. Let’s say you did try, you followed through, and you succeeded. Congratulations. You became wealthy by reaping the fruits of your labor. Unfortunately, this doesn’t necessarily mean it will last forever. That’s right, old man change will likely come along while you’re drinking your champagne and driving your new Mercedes and create a whole new set of problems, of that you can be sure.

So, no matter what, always remember, life may be good or life may miserable, but one thing is certain … life is about change — and that’s what makes it so darn interesting. If change is something you have a hard time dealing with, then just think of all the fun you’re missing out on. If variety is the spice of life, then change is the oregano that you sprinkle on your pasta to make it less bland.

Certainly a bland life is an okay life, but a life of spice is the stuff of history. Without change a caterpillar would never become a butterfly and a tadpole would never become a fish. I wouldn’t want to live in a world like that, would you?

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Glenn Cutforth is a writer, eBook publisher and graphic designer.

Visit his websites at: Self-Help and Wellness.com and The Complete Cat.com

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