Forest fires billow from the ground as my plane ascends from the Denver, Colorado airport. Turning from the window, I see masked passengers, spaced apart in a half-full plane. And . . . I'm happily (and finally) moving to Lehi, Utah.
Yes, the world is changing, and I'm changing with it. Today's article explores five factors that allow us to either embrace change or run away from it. I hope my insights help you to benefit from the changes that will surely affect each of us in the years to come.
Have a great week!
5 Important Factors for Mastering Change
Update: my move across the country during a pandemic
As I write this article on the art of handling change, I'm reminded of a scene in The Princess Bride where Buttercup and Wesley enter the dark fire swamp, pursued by the wicked king Humperdinck. The fire swamp has flame spurts, lightning sand, and rodents of unusual size. As ominous music and growls play in the background, Wesley looks around, pauses, and comments, "It's not that bad. I'm not saying I want to build a summer home here, but the trees are actually quite lovely."
Suddenly, popping sounds occur and fire comes up from the ground, burning the hem of Buttercup's dress. She panics, but Wesley calmly puts it out and says, "Well now, that was an adventure. Singed a bit were you?" She shakes her head as he smiles at her lovingly.
Pop, pop, pop goes the fire swamp as Wesley quickly lifts Buttercup away from another spurt of fire. With a smile, Wesley says, "Well, one thing I will say, fire swamps certainly does keep you on your toes."
I hope you'll take the time to watch this fun movie if you haven't seen it yet. I'm not saying that we should be like Wesley when adapting to change, but he does illustrate someone who handles changes well, even if it is a caricature of real life. Here are five factors that Wesley demonstrated that I feel are important for a smoother adaptation to change:
Courage: Everyone encounters fear when faced with change. However, if we try our best in spite of our fears, that is the definition of courage. When faced with something daunting, I always like to ask for help, whether it's through a quick prayer, doing some energy work, or reaching out to a trustworthy friend.
Optimism: Facing changes takes hard work. To be optimistic despite the hard work of changing, our expectations, standards, and values need to be aligned with openness and appreciation for the hard-earned shifts, and not for the ease and familiarity of a static life (. . . the trees are actually quite lovely).
Vision/Inspiration: What is the purpose and vision behind our desire to change? Believe in it and see it happening in your life. The greater the imagined benefits, the more motivation we have to face the challenges that come with change (Wesley was motivated by true love).
Integration: Dealing effectively with change requires openness to learning and integrating new information over time (fire swamps certainly does keep you on your toes). This is why humility is so important for growth. Being open to change leads to constant learning.
Determination: Give yourself time. There will be blockages, deficiencies, mistakes, and a myriad of other mishaps along the way. Just keep going. Don't expect perfection, just effort. In time, your efforts will lead to the results you envision. (Singed a bit were you?)
Yes, the first letter of each factor happens to spell COVID. Hopefully, that'll help you to remember it and to think of the positive aspects of these letters.
Since my article, "On Goodbyes and Hellos," I've been able to finalize the purchase of the house of my dreams and am in the middle of getting settled in Lehi, Utah. It was a lot of work, filled with many mishaps, and I had to ask for and receive a lot of help. Every factor I've outlined above was a necessary part of my journey to this point. I hope that as you face changes in your life, you will remember to strengthen these five factors to help you weather life's changes with ease. Have a great week!
For those who are wondering, my practice will continue to expand with both a Maryland and a Utah medical license, and I will be taking new patients virtually online. Currently, I have a waiting list. If you want to be on the waiting list, please call my assistant at 240-437-7600. Also, I will continue producing my Holistic Updates. And don't forget, my podcast will be coming out once a week as well, just as soon as I'm settled in Lehi.