How,Deal,With,Our,Changing,Wor DIY How to Deal With Our Changing World

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Why are we so resistant to change?  As I loaded up my dogs this morning to takethem to the vet for their annual physicals, I wondered why they were pantingtheir heads off and their bodies were shaking from head to foot.  Dogs, like people, are accustomed toroutine.  When I loaded them in the car,that was contrary to their daily routine. I had moved them out of their comfort zones.  We, too, get nervous when we are faced withchange.  Many of us choose to stay in badmarriages or in horrible jobs rather than pursue a new course.  Yet, it’s change that keeps us alive andvital.  Charles Darwin said, “It’s notthe strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is theone that is most adaptable to change.” That quote suggests that we must not only learn how tocope with change but we must learn how to embrace it.  As we watch the changing world swirl by us,instead of complaining that we cannot keep up or hiding in our shell, we needto get on board.Communication is in a whirlwind of change.  We are experiencing what I would call acommunication revolution.  Most of usgrab our cell phone before we grab our purse or our keys when we exit.  The cell phone has become an extension ofus.  How about five years ago?  Did you grab your cell phone?  Did you have a cell phone?  How many kids had laptops?  Who even thought about reading a book on aKindle?  Did you know what Twitterwas? Consumers are buying products they find online.  They are “googling” items they wish topurchase rather than wandering through a department store.  Answers to any of your questions are right atyour keyboard.  With the stroke of a keyyou can send information to others. Consumers talk about products they like and dislike online.  They evaluate books on Amazon.  They evaluate toys on Amazon.  The shout their joy or pleasure with whatthey purchase or the service they received on Facebook and Twitter. How can we keep up? How can we adjust to the vast changing world and stay sane?  Whatever happened to routine?Now that we agree that change is part of living in aworld that’s changing so fast most of us are unaware of it, let’s look at thesteps of change.First, let me ask you to cross your arms.  Now, look down and examine which arm is ontop.  Now change that and put the otherarm on top.  How does that feel?  For me it feels uncomfortable and as soon asyou’re not looking I’m going to re-cross my arms the other way.  Change is uncomfortable.  As soon as change feels comfortable, we’reasked to change again.  It’s an endlessprocess of being uncomfortable.Steps of Change:·  Awareness. The first step is to become aware of a reason to change.  In other words, if we can’t see a reason tochange, we won’t do it because it is uncomfortable.  In dealing with the social media and therevolutationary changes in our communication, awareness is key.  We resist until we understand we must.  I hear people say things like, “I don’t seeany reason to get on Facebook.”  Or, “I don’thave time to mess with Twitter.”  Or,“All this is a fad that will go away.” These responses suggest that these people have not come to an awarenessof the need to change.  The longer theywait, the more uncomfortable not changing will become. ·  Understanding.  As soon as we understand the need tochange we are ready to understand the change. To do that we must integrate the old with the new.  If we try and toss out all the old, we cannotunderstand the change.  It becomes aliento us.  We might stick our toe in thewater, but we’ll never completely jump in. As you begin working with the social media in small ways, take what youalready know and build on that.  Forexample, if you keep a daily journal, begin doing so on a blog.  Or, if you upload pictures to your computer,do so on Facebook.  ·   Acceptance. This is the step in change when you are willing to accept that you mustdo something.  You’re not sure what to doyet, but you are willing to accept that change is necessary.  ·  Change. Now that you’re ready to make the change because you are aware ofit, you understand how it will integrate what you already know and you acceptthat you must, then you can change. But the change itself is a process that includes consideringalternatives, following through, practicing and repeating and finally changing.Wow!  Now we’recomfortable with the change.  We feelgood.  We understand how to use Facebook,LinkedIn and Twitter.  We’re adept withthe new world of communication.  Guesswhat!  It’s now time for you to preparefor the next change.  Once we’recomfortable is when we must brace ourselves for whatever comes next.