At The Threshold Of Change:

Some of us find ourselves at the threshold of change because we were picked up from where we were and placed there. Others arrive at this place because they have been seeking it either actively or subconsciously. In the former situation, most of us will be unprepared for the change and the journey may be rougher than for those who have sought it. However, the road ahead can be smoothened considerably if we actively adapt to that change. The quicker we do so, the easier we will make it for ourselves and others involved.

Those who have initiated the change should be in a better place because, presumably, they have been preparing for it. (We will address preparation as an important part of the process in the next blog.)

Change can come to you directly or indirectly through someone close to you at home or at work. It can be a major life event or a relatively minor one. Falling in love, marriage, the birth of a child, going away to college, a health issue, a relocation, a change of manager, a corporate takeover, a layoff, a promotion, a catastrophic weather event – each one has the potential of upending your life as you know it.

Change itself is neither good nor bad. For most people, the impact it has on their lives as well as how they perceive it and respond to it makes it one or the other, easy or difficult, wonderful or uncomfortable, positive or negative.

As with most life events, we can choose how to respond to change. We can choose to actively or passively be for it or against it. Doing nothing and hoping that change will not impact us is unrealistic. After all, change happens with every breath we take. Change is not something to be afraid of, although at times it is not easy or comfortable.

Change is not to be feared. Indeed, according to Franklin D. Roosevelt, the only thing to be feared is fear itself. However, the reality is many people are afraid of a variety of things, but mostly those that are unknown to them – in other words, fear of the unknown. So, how do we get past this fear?

I myself consistently take the following two actions to help alleviate fear of the unknown: (1) Thinking rationally and (2) remembering past experiences and related learnings.

Thinking rationally involves looking at the situation objectively, identifying and evaluating risks, and taking steps to manage and mitigate those risks. As I get better at doing that, I am simultaneously learning how to effectively manage fear.

The second exercise gives me added confidence and comfort when I reflect on past events and how I successfully navigated those changes. For instance, coming to USA as a 21-year old MBA student, my first job in Corporate America, marriage, a lay-off and, of course, starting a small business. I was able to successfully navigate those changes…but only with assistance from my teams at home and at work.

But, what if we were to set fear aside and perceive change as an opportunity to help us achieve our full potential, an opportunity to live life to its fullest? Would we not only accept it but even welcome it?

Remember as children how we ran without fear or caution towards things that were exciting and wondrous to us? When an evening trip to the neighborhood park was an all-consuming happy adventure? We implicitly and inexplicably trusted our parents and even the intangible, unfathomable “universe” to keep us safe.

We learned from hugs and skinned knees and sharing with our friends and our first love how to grow into the wonderfully unique human beings we are today. Would we live fuller, happier adult lives if we continued with the same curiosity, sense of adventure, trust and sharing? I say, YES!

So, let’s welcome positive change into our lives and embrace it. Let’s initiate change with the intent of helping – and not harming – ourselves and others. Doing so will bring each one of us closer to achieving our full potential individually and collectively as human beings.

Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher, said: “The only thing that is constant is change.” Those words are as true today as they were when he pronounced them over 2,000 years ago. Here is a collection of 32 quotes from well-known leaders that I hope will inspire you to welcome positive change into your lives and boldly lead yourself and your teams at home and at work through it.

Know that every change is an opportunity waiting for you. It’s up to you to reach out with both hands and take it!

I invite you to join me on this journey and share your stories as well on Facebook and Twitter with the intent of helping others and contributing to the greater good.