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How we experience, perceive, and address change has a profound impact on our lives. When change happens it also is usually multifaceted and does not disrupt just one area. Some shifts are small and may go unnoticed, while other sources of change bring about our greatest joy and grief. As we head into autumn and the changes that may bring for you, what does it look like to handle change in a way that lines up with your values, goals, and context?
Personal Agency
An important factor that influences how each of us addresses change is our sense of personal agency. At baseline, this informs how capable we feel, whether we assume we can accomplish a task, and the degree of responsibility we take in different situations. When change occurs, such as the start of school or a car breaking down, some of us may notice a change in our sense of agency. Good or bad the change may seem uncontrollable and frightening, as if it has taken away our ability to act and respond. Yet change can also cause us to notice and use our strengths, pushing us to grow in new ways. It is normal for a new experience to elicit both fear and courage simultaneously in this way. We may need to consider how to care for the part of us that is afraid and feels a lack of agency while also being curious about what the courageous part of us is moving us toward. Listening to both sides may be difficult, yet doing so is likely valuable work.
Gain and Loss
Having a high sense of personal agency and taking appropriate action in the face of change can significantly alter how we experience something. Yet there is the reality that change often carries consequences that we are impacted by and live with afterward. Maybe a new friendship ignites joy, while the loss of a loved one naturally leads to grief and loneliness. Acknowledging the impact of change can be difficult and even bring up feelings of helplessness or powerlessness. Wrestling through the uncomfortable feelings stirred up by change is challenging and we may need external resources for support, insight, relief, and connection.
Rhythm within Change
While you process the changes you are facing, consider what kind of resources or rhythms you want to pursue in the middle of this. What daily routines could you continue? How can you connect with the people in your life? What memories do you want to treasure and return to? Do you need to adjust or add to your rhythms in light of what has changed?
Here are Some Additional Resources for More Information:
If you’re seeking to connect further or receive support for cultivating change or need other assistance, please reach out to us at 250-718-9291 or email us at info@okclinical.com.
For specialized services, our team is ready to help you explore what an embodied life can look like through our various counseling programs. You can also check out our General Counseling Services, learn about the Types of Therapy we offer, or visit our booking page here.
The following resources are excellent places to start establishing your self-compassion practice, going at your own pace:
- The Invisible String by Patrice Karst. For children on enduring connections.
- Ida, Always by Caron Levis. For parents and children on loss and grief.
- Return to Rhythm by Elena Dominguez
Written by: Emily Beckett, Practicum Student
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