Never Be Afraid Of Change!
Hello, fellow WA community friends - I hope you all are having (had) a great day!
Many moons ago, I worked for one of the largest HR Consulting firms in the world, Mercer Delta HR (now Oliver Wyman), and one of the biggest and most common challenges they would guide new CEOs and large organizations through was CHANGE.
One of our best senior consultants once said, "Never be afraid of change. You may lose something good, but you may gain something even better".
People fear change because it's the fear of the unknown, which is a very NORMAL feeling -- and is nothing to be ashamed about; in its extreme form, the clinical term is called "xenophobia."
Xenophobia is the fear of a foreign or strange circumstance, people, or other unknown objects. It is derived from the Greek word Xenos and Phobia, which means foreign or strange and morbid fear, respectively.
Why do people have a fear of the unknown?
Sometimes, we can have a fear of the unknown closely related to the fear of change.
We can sometimes have this fear due to a lack of predictability and control, which is a major contributing factor to fear. If little information is provided or available for us to predict an outcome or make a decision, this will increase anxiety and uncertainty.
Fear of the unknown can also have different intensities, such as:
- Low levels of anxiety: Dislike or bother
- Moderate levels of anxiety: General fearfulness or intolerance
- High levels of anxiety: Terror or dread
We can try to manage the fear of the unknown by alleviating it through individual work, like seeking the support of trusted individuals, a therapist's help and guidance, or some combination of these methods.
Self-Help Techniques
Trying a few self-help techniques may also be helpful for people who have a fear of the unknown.
Some ideas to try are:
- Making lifestyle changes to reduce panic attacks - such as exercising regularly, eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, and avoiding stimulants like caffeine
- Attending a support group and talking to others who share this fear can help.
- Practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing or doing yoga
- Practicing visualization, which involves visualizing in your mind how you may cope successfully with a situation that is unknown or uncertain, or meditation
Recognizing, accepting, and working toward challenging the fear of the unknown takes time, consistency, and adjusting strategies to find what works best.
Have faith, don't be afraid to change, and find the courage to let go of things you cannot control.
Sometimes we try hard to hold onto something good without realizing something much better is waiting for us.
As always, your thoughts, questions, and feedback are welcome!
Have a great and productive week!
-Mike
Recent Comments
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Change happens every time; we have little or no effort over it.
So take the positive and move on.
Thank you, Mike.
You are very right as change is always happening, and we need to be prepared to change with it to stay pace with today’s world.
-Mike
Change is inevitable, and thankfully I don't have any of the problems you talked about. But I do know some do and my heart goes out to them.
I don't necessarily fear change, Mike, but I just wish it didn't happen as frequently as it does though. We've got to have time to breathe for a minute!
Another well thought-out post, my friend!
Jeff😎👍
Thank you Jeff…unfortunately change is a part of “life”, and is something that will always be around us — but I do agree with you that change at a slower pace would be nice.
-Mike
A great post with wise words, Mike! Change and the fear of the unknown are most difficult to tackle, especially when wired a certain way.
Susan
I agree Susan, and thank you for the compliment! The fear of the unknown is a BIG obstacle and a very hard one to concur.
-Mike
See more comments
The fear of the unknown has always and will always be a problem, Mike
The feeling of uncertainty speak volumes throughout
I believe it is best to approach it with the question of what would happen if we did not do or experience this unknown pathway.
What do we have to lose if we don't partake of this unknown territory.
Those answers will certainly be revealing and help us to make an informed decision
Well said…thank you!
-Mike
You're always welcome