Recycle Yourself! Convert Fear to Freedom

The fashion industry is masterful at recycling trends. If you loved a specific style 20 years ago, you may find it hanging on the store racks today. Recycling is a process, an evolution; it’s taking the old and creating the new.  There are very few originals in life. You can learn from the fashion industry and RECYCLE personal trends and your lifestyle by engaging in positive change.

Change is difficult and can be viewed as expected or unexpected in nature. Expected change is planning for and inviting change into your life, like attending graduate school, buying a new home or beginning an exercise program. Unexpected change is uninvited and not easily embraced. It is inconvenient change, like having a sick child on the day you have a million things to do or losing your job due to a sluggish economy.

Recognize that change is a constant in life. Some change you choose and some change comes at you like a tidal wave – it’s not a choice. Losing your job due to a sluggish economy is an unexpected change that causes feelings of fear and frustration.  Choosing to relocate because of a job promotion is an expected change that may also create frustration.                                                                                         

In order to embrace change it is important to answer the following question – do I resist change and why? Like many people you may fall victim to one or more of the following barriers that prevent you from making successful change.

·        Fear of the unknown.

·        Viewing change as frustrating, overwhelming or inconvenient.

·        The ‘buy in’ isn’t high enough. Making the change isn’t worth your time or energy because the outcome is not important to you or a priority.

·        Limited time and personal resources necessary to make successful change.

·        A lack of self-control and discipline. 

Engage in positive change by practicing the following:

Choose to act or react: When it comes to change you have two choices – to act or react to change. It is best to act and not react. Reaction is a knee-jerk response to change and acting is a controlled choice.

Stretch yourself by altering your mindset about change. Temperament and personality can play a role in how effectively or ineffectively you deal with change. The good news is you can alter your mind set about change. It is important to recognize that you can stretch your personality only to a certain point. Our inborn temperaments influence us regardless of the lives we lead.

Convert fear to freedom: The key to converting fear to freedom is to view change as a challenge not a threat.

Individuals rely on their resiliency when they recognize change as a challenge. Resiliency is the ability to identify and use your personal resources, strengths and assets to help you master change.

Viewing change as a threat, ma y cause you to see change as black and white. This is a restrictive, one-sided perspective of your options when faced with lifestyle change.

Look beyond your personal boundaries: Take time to limit your anxiety by shifting your perspective.  Avoid ambiguous messages about change and adjust your mindset by recognizing that negative ideas about change may or may not be true.

Successful change is possible. Distance yourself from negatives and recognize that criticism promotes low self-esteem. Stop dreaming about making positive change in your life and make a realistic action plan. Stop and recognize that “what ifs” create feelings of disappointment. Always give yourself credit instead of discrediting your abilities.

Take the challenge to recycle yourself and your lifestyle. It begins with taking the familiar, making a few changes and creating the new, improved you!              

The Empowerment Project   www.vikkicarrel.com