Brace for Change and Focus on Your End Result

Today my daughter was outfitted with silver tracks on her smile. Yes, she has braces. For weeks, she delightfully chatted with everyone she encountered that she was going to be getting braces. Her anticipation and excitement about getting braces amazed me. I do not remember my friends or I getting excited about braces. My daughter sees a braces as a milestone in her growth and development. A sign of being a teenager. A sign of change.

Anticipated change can be very exciting. She arranged to have her best friend accompany us to the appointment for support. Thank God for girlfriends. As they were putting the braces on, she asked and asked many questions about everything that was going on. Inquisitive young lady! It is definitely important to be informed and she was not going to miss a beat..."What if this happens...what if that happens..." The hygienist smiled..."It will not be the end of the world." The reassurance was welcomed. My daughter practiced her new smile and was as giddy as ever as she wanted to share this experience with everyone. She beamed...or shone I should say.

A few hours later, she was not beaming. Her eyes welled with tears. My daughter's mouth was uncomfortable and she had difficulty eating. Now, she had wished she could take them off. We brainstormed solutions of comfort...milkshakes, Orange Julius, ice cream, and even french fries. Something soft or cold plus some pain relief. She kept reminding me..."I know I will get use to them and I am going to have a beautiful straight smile." Yes, you will my darling girl, yes you will.

For many of us, change can be exciting or anxiety provoking. If we view change as a good thing and focus on the end result, our efforts do not seem as labor intensive.

"If you change the way you

look at things,

the things you look at change."- Wayne Dyer

Think about an area in your life or business that is undergoing change right now. What type of change is going on? Are you excited or fearful of this change? Here are some ways to help you deal with anticipated change:

Discover Your Support Systems. What people or resources do you have to help you adapt to change in your world? Make a list. Has someone gone through a similar situation?

Be Informed. Make a list of pros and cons. Ask questions about possible scenarios until you feel you have enough information. Ask others who have been in a similar situation for questions you should be asking. Asking is a sign of strength and also makes a person more confident when making decisions.

Brainstorm Solutions. When you are well-informed, you can develop plans of action to overcome any obstacles or unexpected events that may come your way.

Focus on Your End Result. Be adaptable. The path of change is not always smooth, however, when you focus on your end result, you know how great you will feel when you reach your destination and realize what you have accomplished. Visualize it, feel it, and believe it. Doesn't it feel good? Perseverance, flexibility, and focus will be the keys to your success.

Our world is in a constant state of change. You are also evolving and changing into your greatness. Remember you are a work in progress. You do not have to take on change alone, ask for what you want and need to know, find solutions, and see your end result as completed. Don't forget to SMILE!

I am looking forward to the end and celebration but most of all, the journey.

Unwrap Your Gift

Life is great until someone or something throws a monkey wrench into your plans. It is how we respond to situations that helps us deal with every situation that comes our way in the future. Change is a part of life yet many people find that change suffocates them. They feel that they lack of control and sometimes become upset, frustrated, or even angry.The reason they develop all these feelings is not because of change, but more so because they don't want to be told what to do or that they must change.

"People don't resist change. They resist being changed!"— Peter Senge

The funny thing is, we all fear change in one form or another. Some people may have the fear of moving, some people may have the fear taking a new class, or even have the fear of eating in a restaurant alone. Depending on how you view change, change can mean many things. I like to see change as a big present with many little boxes inside. You do not know what you are going to get but there are many possibilities and opportunities to unwrap. You might not always like what you get but you must be gracious and accept what has been given to you. Your gift now belongs to you and you may do what you wish with it. You have a choice. Use it wisely. Change allows growth and reflection of who you once were and who you have yet to become.

I recently finished reading the book "Who Moved My Cheese?" by Spencer Johnson.  I enjoyed it so much that I shared it with my kids. They loved analogy used to prepare for change. This book is a quick read, emphasizing many points about anticipating change, moving with change, and yes, enjoying change. Change is something you need to be ready for. You need to embrace it and enjoy the process.

The world continues to turn whether you are ready or not. If you are not ready, you run the risk of being left behind because of what is here today may not be here tomorrow. Treasure the gift of change.

Here are three easy ways to deal with change:

1. Choose Your Response- How you choose to view change with determine how you react to it. Your reaction affects your experience.
2. Focus on What You Can Control - Keep perspective on the things that you do have control of. When you focus on what you can do rather than what you can't do, you can persevere and succeed.
3. Keep a Positive Outlook - Look for the opportunities and lessons to be learned. The attitude you choose to have will determine your thoughts, feelings, and ultimately your behaviours or actions. Stay optimistic about the outcome you wish to have as the result of the change. Remember your gift can be bigger and better than you ever imagined.

Above all,

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi.




I would love to know how you deal with change. Do you have a quote or story to tell us about change? Please share it!