Title: Take Charge of Change
Length: 574 words
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a copy of your publication with the article included.Take
Charge of Change
by Cathy Stucker, IdeaLady.com
Copyright 2003, Cathy Stucker
Learn how to accept the change you cannot control,
manage the change you can control, and
make change a positive force in your life.
Everyone has experienced change. Fear of change can keep us
from experiencing our lives to the fullest. But refusing to
acknowledge it doesn't insulate us from having to experience
change; instead, we just give up control of our own destinies.
Have you ever put off making a decision, only to have one made
for you?
Events of change can range from joyous to tragic, but even
happy changes often involve stress.
The key to dealing with stress is feeling in control of
your life. You can reduce stress and improve the quality of
your life when you put yourself in the driver's seat. Even
when change is imposed on you, your attitude about facing the
change and making positive choices will make the best of your
situation.
You can put these nine Principles of Change to work for you
to take charge of the changes that affect you and control your
own destiny.
Keep your sanity and perspective.
As hard as it may be at the time, even the worst circumstance
will pass. Puffing small problems out of proportion makes them
harder to face.
Use your spirituality and strength of
character. In times of change, our reserves of
inner strength can pull us through.
Acknowledge your rights and responsibilities,
to yourself and others. Take care of yourself,
even pamper yourself, when you are in the throes of change,
but don't neglect your responsibilities to those around you.
Don't do it alone. Take advantage
of the support and resources available to you. Need someone to
brainstorm solutions with? Someone to provide information you
lack? Or just a shoulder to cry on?
Face the fear, and discover you have the
courage to overcome it. It's OK to be afraid,
just don't use your fear as an excuse to stay trapped
somewhere you shouldn't be.
Use your imagination and creativity to develop
win/win solutions. While sometimes our needs and
wants will seem to be in direct opposition to someone around
us, it's not always true that someone else has to lose for you
to win. Find the solution that helps both of you get what you
want. You may not both get everything you want, but you can
both walk away happy.
Be flexible. Focus on what is
really important: the results you want. Don't get hung up on
the means of getting there, and don't sweat the small stuff.
Know what you want, and actively choose it.
You can't get what you want if you don't know what it is.
Make a plan and take action. You've
probably heard that if you fail to plan, you are planning to
fail. Having a plan keeps you focused on results and moving
toward your goals.
Don't wait for your life to happen to you. Go out and seize
the life you want!
"Things do not change, we do."
Henry David Thoreau
"Life belongs to the living, and he
who lives
must be prepared for changes."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"Don't tell me worry doesn't do any
good. I know better.
The things I worry about don't happen."
Anonymous
"There is nothing permanent except
change."
Heraclitus
As the Idea Lady, Cathy Stucker can help you attract
customers and make yourself famous. Get a free tip every
Tuesday when you subscribe to Bright Ideas at http://www.IdeaLady.com/.
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