When Change is Scary

Some people thrive on changing things up, but for those who don’t this is for you.

When the day-to-day is working just fine, it can be paralyzing to consider making a major switch like changing a job, changing an address, or changing a lifestyle (omnivore to vegan or married to divorced). Why is change paralyzing for some and how can we soften the blow?

Comfort Sacrifices Growth

Consider how a new job feels initially. Presumably month 1 is full of learning new tasks, meeting new people, feeling inexperienced but with steady growth underway. There are many days of feeling overwhelmed, but there are also days when you feel the smug justification of nailing something that used to be perplexing. There is victory is overcoming and growth, but the initial steps of the journey are intimidating.

Now consider that same job in year 5. When we know what to expect and have minimal surprises, it is comfortable. We can anticipate, generally, how the week will go and continue usual behaviors allowing us to coast on routine and fluency. It is easier to be assured of our proficiency and our role. We have fewer unknown variables. There is consistency and steadiness, but there is minimal growth and novelty.

Preparing for change

While it’s largely impossible to feel fully prepared for something new, you can work to adjust your expectations for a more accurate measurement of success. Additionally, education is largely helpful with helping feelings of preparedness. Never bought a home? Look into what this entails including finances, timeline, and extraneous considerations. Find resources, such as people who have already successfully accomplished what you are considering. When you can anticipate obstacles, it’s easier to have alternates in place. For those looking to really lean in, consider that there is a net gain even from failure.

Whether you are facing a major change that is inevitable or self-selected, recognize that apprehension and hesitation is normal. Consider what may be stagnant in your life that may benefit from development. Regular assessments of items otherwise on autopilot may help us find areas that could greatly improve our happiness and quality of life. Remind yourself of the unknown benefits and new adventures changes may offer to your life story. Life coaching can help make the initial steps less overwhelming and more eagerly anticipated. Book your free consult today!