By Susan Coleman, Director of Marketing & Communications for HCA Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center
I love the saying, “This too shall pass.” It is an indicator that there is a season of change coming, and if I am in rough spot, it will not last forever. But what if I like where I am?
Naturally, we are creatures of habit and comfort is something we all try to find. Change, is quite the opposite. It often requires discomfort to make a shift, grow, and reach the next level. Why can’t I stay in the comfort lane of life? Well, I think we all know- nothing in life stays the same. No two days are exact, no two leaves on a tree are the same, identical twins have differences, and even if you’ve been through something before; it is likely not the same experience. Raising kids is a great example. I have two, and after having the first I thought I was a pro. Well, I can say for many reasons, I was totally wrong. I often felt like I had no experience in child rearing with my second child. We are now in the adulting season, and there are constant wind shifts ahead.
March is here and that’s nature’s way of ushering us into a new season. For everything I aspire to do, I can only attain those goals with change. I often laugh at the definition of insanity- doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I want the comfort, but at the same time I want the results to be better. These two things fight to co-exist.
Instead of mourning what used to be, and figuring out how to stay there, I now want to embrace what could be. Springing into our new season commands our attention. The new season will evolve with or without you.
If you are ready to take on your new season- professionally or personally, here are some tips to reduce stress:
- Have a flexible plan. Be ready to adjust what you thought it would be when it’s not, (good or bad).
- Identify the positives to amplify and embrace. Minimize the negatives to address and move through.
- Ask for help, if needed. We are human beings meant to do life together and not in isolation. Get the support you need.
- Identify and understand the discomfort. There is a root cause, (fear, anxiety, loss, cost, etc.). It may be time to pull some roots and plant new flowers!
- Be willing to invest in yourself. You are worth it. Don’t just go with the flow, be intentional.
Of course, there are always more steps we can take, just remember: “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” You’ve got this.
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