How Great People Go through Unexpected Change With Resilience

Change is inevitable as it is a continuous process in life. Some changes we anticipate and plan for, but some come upon us when we least expect and catch us off guard. These are the changes that have a tremendous effect on your life. How do you go through change with resilience?

You go through change with resilience by embracing it. Learn and master the effects they are likely to have on you. Change calls for a positive mind that is ready to learn, activate support, and assist others through the process. Above all, understand that change takes time and mistakes are inevitable as you study new processes.

While some changes are small and need minimum effort to handle, some changes like the loss of a loved one, loss of a source of income, loss of your home due to war, or pandemics can cause a lot of stress on you. Below we discuss the process of change, its effects, and what you can do to adapt with ease as leaders do.

How Unexpected Change Affects Young Professionals

Unexpected changes bring about a sense of helplessness and inadequacy, loss, demotivation, confusion, fear, tension, loss of control, excitement, and distress.

When faced with change, people tend to move into three different categories. We see the victim, the survivor, and the navigator. It is good to note that we all fall into the three classes at one time or another, but other people will stay longer in one of them.

Victims

Victims will always see themselves in a situation they have no control over and make no effort to get out of it. They complain, blame others, or circumstances over their misfortune. They will wait for better change to happen to them or for a messiah to take them out of their problems. Victims exhibit immense anger, aggregation, fear, and anxiety.

Survivors 

Survivors are a better fashion for the victims. They believe they are under the mercy of circumstances that they can not change and hold onto their dear lives. While they do not blame circumstances or others for their misfortune, they do little to change their situation and do everything possible not to lose what they already have. Survivors become protective of themselves and what they own. 

Navigators

The navigator, on the other hand, doesn’t sit around to mourn their situation. They don’t wait for a perfect time, or a savior to arise. Navigators believe in their resilience to move seamlessly with change and see unexpected change as an opportunity for them to grow. They are a perfect example of highly effective people.

In order to master self-leadership, you need to understand where you fall into the three categories for you to move fast and adapt with ease to change.

How Do Young Professionals React To Unexpected Change?

Resistance

During the first stage of change, young professionals face denial, anxiety, and confusion. You shouldn’t worry about this as it is normal. But, you shouldn’t remain in the same situation for long.

The neutral zone

In the neutral zone, you will still find yourself confused, but you will have accepted the situation. Your focus diminishes, and your energy is undirected. When this happens, know that it is the right time to look around and hunt for opportunities. Explore what is available against the skills that you have.

Moving forward 

Once you have the opportunity you are looking for, be ready to commit. This is not the time to handle things haphazardly. The less time you take to adapt, the faster you move ahead.

How To Move Through Unexpected Change As A Young Professional

Acknowledge change has occurred

The first step to handling unanticipated change is to accept that it has happened and surrender to it. Going against change will only cause you more frustrations. Be like a river that flows with nature. It does not force its way through an obstacle but goes around it.

Accepting change enables you to come up with a plan to handle the situation at hand with a sober mind.

Evaluate your feelings toward the change

Take time to evaluate your emotions toward the change you are going through. Do you feel excited, fearful, or helpless? And why do you feel the way you do? When you take time to sort out your emotions and the reason you feel the way you do, you can sort rational and irrational reactions toward change. In the process, you make sound decisions.

Prepare for the new normal

Some changes are temporal, but others are permanent, like the loss of a loved one, losing a job or contract, or moving to a new home. Preparing for the new normal makes your life smoother. Take an audit of your life in the current situation. Determine where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there.

Preparing for the new normal is uncomfortable. It requires you to take up unfamiliar responsibilities, cut down on some expenses, and learn new skills. You don’t need to worry about that; man can learn new things and adapt to change. Our forefathers did it for ages, so relax. As the bible says, there is nothing new under the sun. You are not the first person to face unforeseen change, and neither are you last.

Have a support system

Change can be overwhelming, but the good news is you don’t have to go through it alone. Reach out to a support system for help. Get in touch with families, friends, or organizations. Man is a social being, and we depend on each other. Don’t isolate yourself unless you want to burn.

Give yourself time to adjust

Adapting is a process, and it needs time. Don’t try to make things move faster than they should or panic when things are not working out at first. It will take time for you to learn new ways of handling situations. Direct your energy and focus on learning instead of worrying and beating yourself up when things are slow.

Reframe the way you think

Change triggers stressful situations and forces you to focus on the negative consequences. While these consequences affect your optimal performance, reframe your thinking, and try to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Focus on the opportunities you can take advantage of to grow.

Take the changing environment as an opportunity to work on your weaknesses and maximize your strengths. Challenging situations expose you to unearth your potential and become a better person.

Get yourself some rest

You can easily get caught up in worrying about what is happening around you, the process of learning, and trying to fix issues, and forget about your health. Self-led people know that adequate rest rejuvenates the body and the mind for critical thinking and sound decision-making.

Give your body and mind rest from the situation and recuperate. Eat well, have enough sleep, exercise, meditate, or take a nap to enhance resilience. Rest enables your body and mind to take in new inputs, processes, and store them for future use.

Have a positive mind

A positive mind sees opportunities in every situation and helps you to adapt to change with resilience in unforeseen change. Avoid pointing fingers at circumstances or people to facilitate your adaptability. 

Learn to build a positive attitude to enhance your outlook and approach to change. A positive mind enables you to have broader thinking.

Keep moving

Change paralyzes your life if you don’t handle it well. It is possible to slip into a mode of despair and let go of your normal daily activities when change happens in one area of your life. But, this shouldn’t be the case. Great people understand the danger of moving into limbo.

It is healthy to carry on with your normal activities in other areas of your life. Engagement helps to calm your mind and gives you time to analyze the situation at hand and re-strategize.

Help Others

Take time to help others through the same change that you’re facing. Some people are in worse situations than you’re, and lending a hand keeps your mind engaged and calms your nerves. You also get to learn more as you seek answers and ways to help.

As you lend a hand, don’t forget to reach out to your support system. Remember, you can’ handle everything by yourself. Man is not an island but a social being. Besides, some situations are beyond your capabilities. 

Focus on what you can control

Put focus and energy on what you can control. Worrying about issues you have no control over will drain you and will not improve the situation. Instead, work on what you can to make things better for you and those around you.

Create an environment of resilience

A resilient environment does not happen by accident. If you are in a team, encourage other people to come up with ideas on how to handle the situation at hand. Be open to ideas and be a team player. Come up with a process that is inclusive and address most, if not all concerns of the members available.

Resilient Competencies That Can Help You Move Through Change With Resilience

Critical thinking

Be a critical thinker and focus on relevant information only. Critical thinking involves planning, strategic thinking, decision making, organization, and execution. As a critical thinker, you can include others in your decision-making, take into account their emotions, and execute the best options in handling change.

Be comfortable with ambiguity

Look for opportunities to let go and handle situations objectively. Holding unto processes that used to work in the past will not help. It is a time for you to be calm and act on the information you have at hand to make the best choice for you and those around you.

Empathy

The fact that you are going through challenging times doesn’t mean you close your heart to what others are going through. Great people and leaders know that in every situation, some people are doing worse than them. Acknowledge the fact that others need your help and offer material and emotional support where you can. That way, you create relations and a support system for yourself and the community.

Courage

Have the courage to take calculated risks when changes arise. You are prone to make mistakes in new situations, and that is part of the learning process. Be open to trying new ideas and ready to make a few mistakes here and there, but prompt to learn from your mistakes and move forward.

Final Word

Unexpected changes come with discomfort and disorientation. But having the resilience to adapt to change can offer you tremendous opportunities for growth.

What changes have you faced lately, and what did you do to adapt?

Share your contribution in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this article. That is what great people with resilience do.