If you have not received the first 11 lessons, you can view them by clicking on links at the end of this lesson. Lesson #12 is on surviving and thriving during change.

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Surviving and Thriving during Change

Marilyn Ferguson, an American futurist once said that change was like "Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. There's nothing to hold on to."

During our lifetime, each of us goes through multiple changes. In some cases, we initiate the changes ourselves. In others, the changes are initiated by others, and we often feel that we have no control over the things that are happening to us as a result of these changes.

When I was going through one of the biggest changes in my life about 12 years ago, I decided that I was not only going to survive the effects of this change, but I was going to thrive and become an even stronger person because of it. Upon making this decision, I immediately sat down and wrote the following eight action steps to survive and thrive during any change in one's life:

1. Tune up your self-confidence. Think of yourself as the important person you are. Each of us is a miracle, and each of us has a mission in life and the skills, talents, and abilities to fulfill that mission. Take time to make a list of everything you like about yourself, and affirm yourself.
   
   
2. Take responsibility for stress reduction. There is lots of stress accompanying any change, even change that we perceive as "good" change. Three ways to reduce stress are relaxation exercises, physical exercise, and laughter. Bob Hope said, "I've seen what a good laugh can do. It can transform tears into hope."
   
   
3. Focus on priorities. Ask yourself the following two questions: What are my priorities in life? Will this change affect me 20 years from now? This helps to put the change into perspective, so that we can deal with it better.
   
   
4. Use your emotional energy wisely. If we spend time blaming, complaining, criticizing, or condemning those who are responsible for the change, we are generating negative energy. This negative energy only drags us down, both emotionally and physically. Instead, if we concentrate on generating positive energy, we are able to deal with the change more effectively.
   
   
5. Look for the positive. Even though it may seem at first that the change has only a negative impact, we can find something positive if we look hard enough. (For more information on this, see Success Strategy #7 or my e-book, "Success without Struggle™: How to Control Your Destiny through Your Attitude").
   
   
6. Maximize your productivity. During major change, people tend to spend time worrying about the future. However, worry breaks down productivity. When we're not productive, we again tend to generate negative energy, and this becomes a downward spiral. Since worry does not solve any problems, I encourage people to spend their time in looking at options and alternatives, rather than in worrying.
   
   
7. Create your own future. You have the power to create your future. In order to do that, you need to focus on your goals, priorities, and alternative action plans for achieving your goals.
   
   
8. Take time to enjoy your life. We are on this earth to have joy. When I look at the word, "recreation," I see within it the word, "recreate." By taking time to do the things that give us joy, we are recreating ourselves, reinventing ourselves, refreshing ourselves, and renewing ourselves.
   
   

The French philosopher, Henri Bergson, said, "To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly."

May you go on creating yourself endlessly!

© 2006 Joan Eleanor Gustafson, Success and Leadership Dynamics

An inspirational and motivational speaker, Joan Eleanor Gustafson has contributed to the growth of more than one million people around the world. For information on Joan's keynote speeches, click here.

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