The experts say CHANGE is one of the most important elements of being successful in life, both on a personal and professional level. Change is also known to be a critical element in business management today. As writers we are very aware of the increasingly competitive market we work in every day. We know that most of us will need to adopt a positive attitude to change at some time in our career. One of the most interesting tools developed has been the self-assessment exercises which helps people improve their ability to manage change. But more about that in Part two.
Firstly, we need to understand change. What is it really?
You can look up any dictionary and the one word in most of the definitions for change is different. Something, no matter what it may be is going to be different from what it used to be. That is change. Change can happen gradually, like in stages or phases. Or it might happen suddenly , on the spot in the most dramatic way.
Change is constantly with us and it has been for a long time. Birth to second teething, second teething to adolescence and adolescence to adulthood, adulthood to old age are all stages of change. An excellent book on this subject is Lievegoed, B (1976) Phases The Spiritual Rhythms in Adult Life. Rotterdam: Lemniscaat.
Being open to the idea of change.
Businesses have to change to stay competitive in today’s highly aggressive markets. Which means the people within these organisations will at some time experience change. It’s recognised that people deal with changes in three ways. They can be a leader of change, a resistor of change or a follower of change. Which group do you fall into?
All writers know the publishing industry is changing much like the record industry is still changing. If we look at change as a global issue, then, everything is changing. Impermanence is part of our everyday life. Nothing stays the same forever. From the way we communicate to what we write. As writers, some of us will change our writing to suit the market, and others will develop a new way of writing. But most writers I know have already had to change their approach to marketing their books and themselves in some way. Change is everywhere!
Most of us know that our personality type will influence our ability to adapt to change. So knowing ourselves is important when change is upon us. Personally, change has been part of my life for a long time, moving from state to state, house to house, job to job with each move. I’ve always reacted positively to every change in my life. Even the very tough changes in my life I have always adopted a positive attitude to change.
Tips for dealing with change
- Accept the change that has arrived. Note: you can choose to reject change. Depending on the type of change, but it’s often helpful to reflect on the positive and the negative. Some changes in life we will have no control over, and at other times we must find the courage to make the changes ourselves.
- Adopt a positive attitude about the change. Find the positives in what has happened. Write them down if that helps.
- Be flexible to the change that has entered your life. Breathe or take a break when you feel those negative thoughts creeping in. Give yourself some time to refocus on the positive.
- Identify with your feelings. How do you feel about this change? Allow yourself the right to experience the emotions that are coming with the change.
- Learn to meditate or relax at least twice a week. Quieten your mind of all thoughts.
I’ll leave you with this quote from Confucius.
Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change. ~Confucius~
Until next time, be brave and bold in your chosen field of creativity. And never be afraid to explore new techniques.
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