Navigating Change: Finding Strength and Growth in Discomfort
Navigating Change is difficult. For many of us, change can come with feelings of discomfort, stress, and confusion. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Change can be empowering, and an opportunity for growth, strength, and self-discovery, but how can we navigate change in a way that facilitates this?
Be open-minded:
Keep yourself open to the experience of change. Allow yourself to feel all the things that come along with it and listen to what your mind and body are telling you. Learn from these feelings and experiences and reflect on them.
Turn to your support system:
Lean on those around you. Whether it’s friends, family, or your therapist, turning to the people you trust during times of change can make all the difference. Whether you’re looking for a place to vent, receive advice, or gain perspective, turning to those around you is a great resource.
Practice self-compassion and self-care:
During times of change it can be easy to compare ourselves to others who have gone through similar changes and put pressure on ourselves to react a certain way, but allowing ourselves the grace to work through things at our own pace and in our own way is important. At the same time, allowing time to engage in self-care practices, whether it’s getting in some exercise, enjoying a hobby, or just allowing ourselves to rest, can ease some of the stress and anxiety that may come with change.
Be mindful:
Mindfulness not only helps you be in the moment and present, but it can help reduce stress and anxiety, and improve self-awareness.
While these tips may not completely ease the discomfort of change, they can allow us to sit and cope with this discomfort, and learn from it. We may be drawn to consistency and resist change, but often working through changes can give us more insight and self-awareness. Engaging with change in a meaningful way can be hard, but can also be incredibly rewarding.
Additional Information
If you are looking to connect further or receive support, please reach out. Get in touch with us at 250-718-9291 or email us at info@okclinical.com.
If you are interested in specialised services, our team is here to help you explore your mental health through our counselling services. You can also refer to our General Counselling Services, our Types of Therapy or visit our booking page here.
Check out these resources to learn a little more about Navigating:
A guided mindfulness exercise for change
An app for goal setting and tracking, encouraging you to stick with changes
Written by: Angela Knowles, Practicum Student
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