By Rhonda Campbell

Change is a component of this world. We start dealing with change beginning in infancy. Yet, accepting change is not always easy.

Our resistance to change manifest in different forms, including body illnesses, depression, inflammation, heightened stress levels and, perhaps most of all, fear. The National Center for Biotechnology Information reports that factors that influence stress include coping skills, genetics, personality and support.

Accepting Change Means Relinquishing Control

A root cause of stress is often change. That change could come, for example, as the departure of a loved one, a new job, a relocation, a child leaving home or a marriage or breakup. Fortunately, change can lead to greater learning, awakening, increased awareness and dream fulfillment.

Gaining from change may require that we lower or remove our expectations and relinquish control. If there truly is a Source behind everything, that created everything, then each thought and/or action impacts every other thought and/or action. We’re all connected. if that’s a fact, that alone could be cause for the constant change that occurs in this world.

Relinquishing control is one of the toughest actions to complete. When we’re comfortable, we often feel in control. Let enough change enter our experiences and we may not only feel that we are no longer in control, we may feel abandoned, forsaken, separated from others and alone. We may feel like it’s us against the world. Expectations are another factor that come into play when accepting change.

Our expectations are generally personal, revolve around what we think will benefit us the most. Few of our expectations may focus on others as much as they focus on us. The Tiny Buddha shares that less expectations can keep us open to “come what may”. This single decision could eliminate or reduce frustration, anger and sadness.

Be Honest About Change

Admitting that change is occurring is another way to gain and truly learn from change experiences. If we find ourselves seeking distraction (i.e. burying ourselves in reading books, working what seems all-the-time, partying incessantly, sleeping incessantly), we may not be willing to admit that we are in the midst of change.

We may not be willing to admit that we are not in control of everything. However, we do have the power of choice. We can choose to speak and think positive thoughts or affirmations and we can connect with people who encourage us (even if these connections are kept via the telephone if friends and family do not live nearby).
Should we fear that we are incapable of accepting change or of managing our way through change, there are steps that we can take to strengthen our confidence. Among these steps are creating a list that lays out specific changes we have processed through already, particularly changes that we didn’t think we would make it through.

We can also talk with others about changes that they have come through. It can help to listen to others share their concerns about change. This alone can cause us to feel “normal” and like if other people are not only accepting change but also managing through change effectively, so can we.

Keep Moving

Keep moving. Realize that change is a part of this world. We may experience periods of constancy in this world, but, those times don’t last. Accepting change could reduce stressors.

Practice awareness and catch yourself if you see that you’re slipping into old patterns. The slip could be resistance to a current change. The resistance to change could be an attempt to keep things from changing.

Accepting change means that you practice awareness and catch yourself should you start retreating in even one area of your life. Pursuing passions and dreams can motivate you. So too can eating a healthy, balanced diet and exercising. Getting outdoors for at least one hour a day could do wonders for your system.

Love yourself. Be patient with yourself. Ask for help if you feel you’d benefit from it, and, again, keep moving. Regularly connect with others. For example, you may join an in-person discussion group, join a hobby group or attend movies with friends one to two or more times a month.