How To Effectively Navigate Change In Your Life
Change is both uncertain and uncomfortable. Polynesian voyagers used way-finding to navigate large stretches of the Pacific Ocean. Similarly, the period between the past and the future can become a rough sea with no sense of security.
Way-finding this metaphorical ocean can be challenging. So, how does one effectively navigate change?
1. Stay Open
To effectively navigate change, embrace the newfound reality that change has arrived. Remaining open during an unpredictable life shift can be beneficial. Any time I have resisted change, I’ve wasted time clinging to the past. Attempting to regain a previous sense of stability that cannot exist in this new moment can hinder personal growth.
2. Be Optimistic
If a new situation feels insurmountable, you might need to shift your perspective. It is harder to find solutions when focusing purely on obstacles. That’s why, optimism can become central to effectively navigating change.
It is sometimes helpful to imagine metaphorical blinders when attempting to move forward. Fear can be crippling, but optimism and resilience are beneficial tools when navigating change or uncertainty.
3. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
When I find myself in uncharted territory, this is often a sign that I am forging a new path. Feeling anxious or uncomfortable when navigating a new path is easy, but continuing on this new path, regardless of the discomfort, can be very rewarding.
Consider the elephant and the rope. A commonly cited metaphor for mental strength, baby elephants are often trained by tying their front legs with ropes, which keep them from running away.
Some limitations are internal. Getting out of my comfort zone has proven to be a necessary step when overcoming mental inhibitions.
4. Trust your Gut
Research shows that the vagus nerve, brain, heart, and gut are connected. I was surprised to learn that our gut feelings, or longings of the heart, are connected to information processed by the brain. Nevertheless, it’s true. So, in this sense, it can be critical to trust your intuition.
Navigating change can be difficult. Uncertainty feels like a dark ocean with no land in sight.
To navigate the waters, remain open and remember you will find your way.