View Change as Challenge!

By Marcus M. Mottley, Ph.D.

Are you experiencing troubling or difficult changes on your job, at home, in your social life or in your community?

Do you see these changes as tragedies, trials or tribulations? Or do you see them as calamities, catastrophes, or unnecessary complications?

What is your response to these changes in your life or circumstances? Are you reacting in anger, fear or hostility? Or are you only irritated, frustrated, or mildly upset? Are you stressed out and threatened by the changes which you are anticipating or those which have already occurred?

In one of my keynotes on how to successfully deal with change: Change Your Life & Keep The Changes You Desire – One critically important strategy that I share is that we should "View Change as Challenge!"

Here are a few steps on how to do reframe “Change” into “Challenge”

First, remember this too shall pass. Think clearly about what this means. I regularly tell myself that “It is night now. Yes, it is dark. Yet, morning will come. Light will come.” That does not mean that I only wait for the morning. Yes, I will bring my own light to the issue… And, I know – that eventually – things will change. For the better!

Ask yourself... What can I change in myself? What can I do, now, that will allow for me to have a different reaction to this change? What about me can I change or adjust so that I can empower myself.

Rephrase the “the problem” into a “challenge” and then into a positive opportunity.

“There is in the worst of fortunes the best of chances for a happy change.” Euripides.
“Some men see things as they are and say ‘why?’
I dream things that never were, and say, ‘Why not?’” Robert Kennedy

Convert fear, anger and other limiting emotions such as worry, anxiety, despondency, denial or avoidance into positive energy. Energy means action. Action means doing something positive that will help to alleviate your stress and empower you to act purposefully – moving you toward a well-defined goal.

Analyze the situation. What is the problem? Look at solutions....What can you do now? What can you do later? Who can you turn to for assistance? Who has had a similar situation like this? What can you learn from them?

Act calmly and persistently. What ever you do – take decisive and relentless action! Do not stop until you have successfully handled the situation.

Don’t stop! Do not stop after you have successfully deal with the challenge! Now you must take action to fortify yourself to prevent this particular issue from becoming a “problem”! This may mean: keeping your resume updated; starting your job search today; establishing a home-based, part time business; building new and more supportive relationships; getting rid of the toxic relationships in your life; starting an exercise program, changing your nutritional habits, and supplementing your diet with vitamins and minerals; Examining your “Globe of Life” and developing a personal vision and mission for specific areas.

Whenever you are faced with “change” you must view it as a “challenge” – an opportunity to do something different that will lead to you having more personal power.

Ask yourself empowering questions. Seek creative solutions. Knock and take decisive and relentless action.

Marcus M. Mottley, Ph.D. is a speaker, executive coach and clinical psychologist. He is the author of Ask, Seek, Knock – an inspirational masterpiece which focuses on how individuals can achieve success by asking the right questions and taking decisive actions. He can be reached through his website: www.SpeakTrain.com or e-mail at mpowerme@SpeakTrain.com