COPING WITH CHANGE

It’s been said that the only constant in life is change. People change, circumstances change, things change. Change can be small, big, subtle or sudden. Sometimes change can be plain sailing, other times it’s a painful process. Change may be a choice we make, or it may be imposed on us. A new job, getting married, starting a family, moving house – these are examples of life changes we may experience. Being involved in the world of horticulture I see change all of the time with the seasons, no day is the same in the plant world.

Technology changes all of the time too and this affects work life as well as in the home. Just look at the changes that Inishowen has seen in just the past ten years; the economy has grown, some companies have gone whilst others move in, houses (and house prices) have gone up and the population has grown with cultural diversity increasing. Small things can affect us as well. A couple of years ago the first set of traffic lights were set up in Buncrana to help folk across the road. We now have four sets and sometimes a couple of them even work! Some of us view change as a positive challenge and thrive on the situation, others fret and agonise over the consequences of these changes. Few of us deal with change without feeling a sense of loss as they let go of the old, so here are some tips to help deal with transition more effectively at home or at work.

Don’t rush it: Change involves a move from one set of circumstances to another. Give yourself time to adjust and settle down.

Expect a reaction: Emotions will be stirred up. Let yourself laugh, cry or feel moody about it. As change involves a degree of loss, so it’s OK to grieve a little and feel nostalgic.

Don’t take it personally: Change happens. That’s life. It’s got nothing to do with you. Don’t obsess over who’s to blame or why it happened.

Go with the flow:Don’t resist or be too rigid. Be flexible, ride out the storm, and see how things turn out.

Don’t go it alone: Talk to your family and close friends. Share your problems with people you trust. Others may offer a different angle to the situation.

Don’t focus on the negative: If you keep looking at the bad side of things, you might miss the good. The glass is also half full you might say.

Break it up : A large problem will seem less insurmountable when divided into little ones. Work on them one at a time, and give yourself a pat on the back each time you overcome one.

Learn from it: With new experiences, we grow wiser and stronger. Wisdom helps us make better decisions in future.

Balance your life: It’s important to have a personal life to fall back on to help you through tough times. Take time to be with your friends and family.

Know that it will end: No matter how big or difficult, change comes to an end when the new circumstances are in place and become familiar. Normality will return!

Acceptance and new opportunities: Once you are used to the change, accepting the new into your life, you will often find that with the change comes new opportunities.

Environmental.