If you clicked on this post, chances are you may be going through or thinking about a significant change in your life. Let’s face it; change is scary af. The fear of the unknown can be wildly overwhelming. ESP for us crazy Type A’s who crave certainty (heyyy). But did you know that our brains actually prefer predictable negative consequences over uncertain outcomes? Our minds want certainty and avoid uncertainty.

However, to get results you’ve never had you have to do things you’ve never done. Everything we want is truly on the other side of fear. But how can we face and embrace change with courage?

The past five years of my life have been an eventful rollercoaster, to say the least - I’ve screamed from the peaks, laughed through the loop-de-loops, held hands through the dips and grew through every twist and turn. I have been continuously thrown into situations where choosing courage is the only way I knew how to survive.

If you are reading this and facing a major choice of change in your life (new job, weight loss, side hustle, new inner circle, break up, etc.), allow me to walk you through five things that have helped me face change with courage and find peace in the uncertainty of the future.

Evaluate your situation and ask, “What are you here to teach me?”
Nelson Mandela once said, “I never lose. I either win or learn.” How powerful is that? Anytime I am faced with a situation of change, I evaluate the situation and always try to understand what I can learn from it. When I go through a tough change; I always learn something about myself that I end up using later in life that helps propel me to the next level. Training your mind to view each change as a unique challenge to teach you something you NEED to know will help to prepare you when the unexpected knocks at your door.
2. Do things before you’re ready
This is a biggie, my friends. Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’ll do it when I’m ready?” Well, guess what? There is no perfect time; you have to create it. The key is to start. It is the whole 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins - If you have an instinct to act on a goal, you must physically move within 5 seconds or your brain will kill it. The moment you feel an instinct or a desire to act on a goal or a commitment, use the Rule. When you feel yourself hesitate before doing something that you know you should do, count 5-4-3-2-1-GO and move towards action.
3. Remind yourself that this is only temporary
In 2014, when I was in the hospital for three months after getting into a major car accident, anytime I was feeling down I would remind myself that this was only temporary and the sooner I recovered, the sooner I would get my life back. Everything in life is temporary, and that is how we as humans can process undesirable circumstances. When you are going through the uncomfortable journey of change, remember that all is temporary and things will not feel so uncertain forever.
4. Change your perspective
On the same note, by going through change and challenging times, it sheds light on how appreciative and grateful I am for the positive times in my life. Everything in life is perspective; once you can master the glass half full vs. half empty idea, you will unlock and discover an entirely different way of thinking and quality of life. Even after the multiple surgeries on my eye after the accident, I thought to myself, “At least I still have my eye to work with! At least I am still here to deal with this recovery.” Training your mind to change your perspective is everything.
5. Understand that worrying will only make things worse
You may have heard this before: if you’re depressed, you’re focusing on the past – if you’re anxious, you’re focusing on the future – if you’re content, you’re living in the present moment. It is so imperative to take life one day at a time and focus solely on what you can do that day to get you closer to your goal.
Instead of seeing change as something intimidating – change your perspective to see it as an exciting opportunity to grow into the person you were meant to be. Life is a learning process!
How do you feel about change? Are you currently facing change in your life?