Today we’re going to talk about fear of change because, for me, it’s a very relevant topic. I am certain that at one time in your life you have been reluctant to make a change. You may have been anxious about the future, concerned about what other people would think or comfortable with maintaining the status quo.
When you are fearful of change, it stops you from taking action. The fear may paralyze you and place limitations on your movement. You cannot move to the left, to the right, or most importantly forward. You are just plain stuck and are staying in the same situation. You may want to maintain the status quo because it feels comfortable; it feels safe; it may even feel secure. But is it really?
First, let’s define change. Per the FreeDictionary.com some definitions for change are:
- To undergo transformation or transition
- To go from one phase to another
- To make an exchange
- The act, process, or result of altering or modifying
- The replacing of one thing for another
There have been changes that I have been resistant to that relate to both my personal and professional situation. I was resistant because I believed the change impacted either my physical or mental condition and/or well being. At times, I have thought “wouldn’t it be lovely just to stop the clock so that nothing changes”. Not very realistic is it?
Since you may have a mental picture of how your life should be, when change is encountered, you may be unwilling to accept it. There are multiple ways of looking at change and they are either accept, embrace, oppose, resist or surrender. I surrender, I surrender! 
Goodness, think about all of the changes that you have experienced in your life. Those changes made you who you are today. I am sure that some of the changes were initiated by you and positively influenced your life. You may have gotten married, bought a house and moved to the suburbs, or even moved to the City and focused on your career.
Other changes and/or transitions that occurred may have been perceived as negative and/or challenging. They may have been 
downright heartbreaking. However, you not only learned and evolved but were actually strengthened by those changes. I’m sure you know the saying that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Well, I must say it feels like I’m lifting 100 pound weights because I’m getting pretty darn strong.
Some of the positive and negative changes that I’ve been through in my life, which you may relate to, are:
- Graduating from High School and working on Wall Street. Realizing that everyone is not Jewish!
- Getting married, having children, partnering with a friend that enabled me to open a consignment Toy store, and closing the store (way too much work).
- Graduating Rutgers at age 35. Yea!
- Finding employment, being laid off, finding employment, leaving employment, working as a consultant, finding employment, being terminated.
- Throughout the years there were births, birthdays, bar mitzvahs, weddings, deaths, and yes, even my getting divorced. Oy vey!
Looking back on my journey, I can honestly say that everything does happen for a reason and ultimately it all turned out for the best. But when we are going through it, why is it so darn hard? Since somehow we manage to not only survive but thrive, why do we fear change?
I am going to take a nap and ask my subconscious to process it and provide me with an answer.
Hugs,
Ilene
The post Fear of Change – Part 1 appeared first on Positively Changing.