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by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.
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Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Change -- Tips for Dealing With It

Wednesday January 17, 2001

Yesterday, I introduced the topic of change and suggested that most things of consequence do change, including everything from your career to challenges to your relationships, your abilities, your expectations, and even your values. Some stay the same, for a while, but not a lot, particularly if you are continuing to learn, explore, experiment, and keep an open mind to adventure and new possibilities. Therefore, an ability to manage change is vital to staying healthy and experiencing success and satisfaction with your life.

I also promised tips would be offered today at the close of the last essay, and now it's time to deliver. Here are a few ideas, most of which are focused on maximizing your employability -- I'm sure you will think of many other change strategies for other, even more important areas of your life.

Choose your mindset, don't allow circumstances or events to do that. Don't fight it, at least not unless you have good reason to think you're heading for a swarm of jellyfish, Great White, or some other hazard. Go with the flow, for a while, while you size up the situation and decide when best to head for shore and what to do when you get there. Don't take change situations personally -- nobody is to blame for the fact that organizations and professions are changing. Think instead of the opportunities lurking in every crisis. ,
Don't drag one leg or race around with a foot on the brake without clear direction. Why waste energy on resistance to change, if it's going to happen anyway, which it most assuredly is, especially if opposition is unadorned with constructive, feasible, and profitable alternatives? If it's likely to happen whatever you think, feel, or do put your focus on how best to shape things to your advantage. Figure out the new rules or make some up, decide how best to position yourself, and welcome the fact that, no matter what happens, you are the ultimate sovereign for how best to deal with reality (as opposed to how things SHOULD be if life were fair).
Focus on results, not process. It's not vital (nice, yes, but not vital) that you feel happy and warm all over about what's occurring. Democracy is great but it's also not crucial that you invest significant time going through the motions and processes of involvement in change, mainly because this is time better spent doing other things. Think like an entrepreneur, even if you are working for others. Try to add value to whatever product or service you provide or support.
Take responsibility to stay employable by upgrading your job performance, if not where you are, then somewhere else. Be flexible about the way you work and agile about with whom and for whom you're willing to collaborate in order to provide the highest utility to customers. Nobody owes you a living, a job, or high morale. Enhance your skills at every chance, read widely, learn all you can from classes, the Internet, and other computer frontiers. Try to invent the ideal work situation that showcases your gifts and passions. Be a high-speed adapter and, whenever possible, a problem solver. Take improvisation to a new personal level -- make it an art form. Hard work, tenacity, adaptability, and risk taking will trump genius, wealth, and connections, although these last three advantages are pretty good, too.
Save the world, or a small piece of it. Change affects the least prepared, too, and you can gain peace of mind as well as personal benefits (e.g., self satisfaction) by reaching out and being of service to others, such as your family, spouse, friends, and/or organizations that need your help adapting. Pay takes many forms and money for services rendered is not necessarily the only or the most profitable return on your creative investments.

What do you think? Are these realistic hints? Want to recommend any others? As always, I'll enjoy hearing from you.

Please stay well.

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