There’s no doubt that fear is one of the most powerful emotions that humans experience. When we face changes that are beyond our control, it’s natural for us to feel scared, anxious, and worried about the future. We all experience change, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

 

Yet fear can become debilitating in our lives. For example:

 

  • Being afraid of trying new things, even when strong evidence supports it.

 

  • Being afraid of making mistakes, so sticking to the routine even when it doesn’t serve a positive purpose anymore.

 

 

It’s important to recognise that change is inevitable. Positive change requires facing your fears and trusting that the outcome will be worth it.

 

 

Whether you’ve just moved to a new city, or you’re facing a big decision in your life, try to keep an open mind and face your fears head-on. By facing your fears, you’ll only grow stronger.

 

 

 

Tips for coping with fear of change:

 

 

  1. Accept change and understand that it’s inevitable. Many people fight the overwhelming fact that change is part of life. They try to hide from change or force it to go away. But change is inevitable, so it’s essential to accept it and embrace it.

 

  • Furthermore, you have a far better chance of success if you use your energy to embrace change rather than fight against it. To accept change, expect it even when things are going well. If you live in expectation of it, any change can be an opportunity for growth.

 

 

2. Prepare yourself for unfamiliar situations. Change tends to happen when you’re not looking for it. When unexpected problems arise, you can use them as opportunities.

 

  • For example, a job layoff can ‘open’ new doors. That doesn’t mean those changes are any less painful when they occur.

 

 

3. Make sense of what you require to deal with the change. When you face an unexpected change, it can be difficult and distressing. But you can help reduce these feelings by learning about your specific change.

 

  • Knowledge is power. Read books on the subject, talk to people who have faced similar situations, and seek professional help.

 

  • When you learn as much as you can about the change, it can help you to feel more hopeful even when the situation may currently seem bleak. Later down the track, when you look back on that situation, you may realise that it was a ‘blessing in disguise’.

 

 

4. Localise your change. With so much going on in the world today, even your best plans can backfire. Survival is more challenging now than ever before. Rather than make a grand plan, why not break your change down into manageable chunks?

 

  • That way, if you encounter any problems, you can refocus on those smaller goals. Smaller, manageable chunks not only reduce stress but also keep you from feeling overwhelmed.

 

 

5. Take good care of yourself. It’s easy to neglect your health and wellbeing when in the midst of change. But it’s important to put yourself first! Find things you enjoy doing, whether it’s exercising, listening to soothing music, exploring a new hobby, or learning a new skill.

 

  • Having a healthy outlet for stress will not only help you live a more positive life but will also relieve your anxiety, allowing you to think more clearly.

 

 

There’s no denying that change is a part of life. But by embracing change, you can make change more manageable. With enough forward-thinking, your change will be easier to endure and help you grow stronger.

Guided Visualization Meditation

A soothing guided visualization meditation audio (with background music) for releasing negative thoughts and emotions.

This is a high quality 320 kbps MP3 DIGITAL DOWNLOAD audio file.

1 Track. Total run time: approx 9 mins 45 secs.

This meditation guides us to relax and release negative thoughts and emotions. We begin by practicing stillness and deep breathing, before introducing imagery of being in a field on a beautiful day, with occasional reference to the breath and including awareness of the body in relation to releasing negative thoughts and emotions.

Listen to a preview of this audio, to get a sense of the voice and music and to determine whether this resonates with you: