Manage Radical Change
Sometimes, we have to make changes. We are human beings, forced to front radical changes and to deal with them. These situations can be hard to handle. Here are a few tips to help you better understand the aim of a radical change and how to deal with it.
Steps
- Be ready for this important change. Life is full of unforeseen circumstances, and for most of them, you can easily find a solution. However, some are so unpredictable that you just can't find a way to face it. Even though you can't prevent this from happening, you can still be prepared for this change. Tell yourself not to be overstressed in general and even less in these situations. Radical changes induces stress and the feeling of not knowing where to go and what to do.
- Reduce your stress level. The less stressed you are, the better you will handle a radical change
- Try not to panic when you're facing a radical change. It may be impossible as you were not prepared for this change, but the more you panic, the more you stress level will increase, leading you to overthink the situation.
- Try not to overthink the situation. The change is so radical that you just can't stop asking yourself existential questions, and how you will find a way out; take a long breath instead, and try to calm yourself.
- Wherever you are, sit. You might have learned, heard or seen this radical change on the street, on the phone, or facing with a member of your family - or a friend - while talking to you. Wherever you are, it would be better for you to sit down - even on the floor, who cares! - and this for a simple reason; it doesn't matter how important or how hard to heard is the radical change that just happened or that someone just told you, you'd better sit to get things clear in your head - and eventually avoid passing out, in extreme cases.
- Because of the shock it might induce, being sat down can help you avoid passing out in cases of important emotional shock.
- Step back if needed. You might want to drive away after this, just to get away. Seeing the landscape, taking a deep breath and slowly pondering on what just happened is actually a valid way for you to reflect on the situation.
- It's okay to take short vacations. Driving away can be a way for you to say "Stop". It can help relieve emotional pain, stop you from overthinking the situation, and give you time to find a solution.
- You're not a coward! You decided to leave, and you can tell yourself it was a great choice. You will have time to think and perhaps find a way to deal with the radical change!
- Instead of getting angry because you cannot handle the situation, just take a deep breath. It can actually lower your anxiety levels, and getting angry may not improve the situation in any ways.
- Get advice. Don't try to cope alone. Why stay alone when you can get advice from your friends or your family? Whether the major change concerns you, personally, or concerns a member or your family or even your friends, you'll always have people to help you. Staying isolated and facing the problem alone is actually not the solution, as it may get worse.
- The feeling of being helped is really important. Knowing that there are people who care about you can actually help you feel more able to tackle the change ahead.
- Getting insights from others can be helpful, too. Maybe others in your life have faced a radical change already and can help you find the best solution to deal with it.
- Break the matter down into manageable bites. Try to think of your major change as just like any other change. Take it one step at a time, and break down the ways you have to adapt into more "bite-sized" pieces. This will allow you to transition to the new situation and factor the changes into your everyday routine.
- Remember that it's okay to have changes in life. It's also okay to have radical changes that are a little scary sometimes.
- Try to stay positive. Even if radical changes are sometimes sad, you can try to find the positive impacts instead of focusing on the negative.
Tips
- Do not hesitate to ask for help. It's actually worth it, as you'll come out of it feeling more confident and equipped with support and ideas for tackling the change.
