Change is scary. And there is one main reason – we can’t always control it. When you consider changing something about your life, what do you think of? And how does it make you feel at the thought of making that change. Usually, that change is for the better, but I’m sure you’re scared about making the move.
Consider this, if that change is going to offer you a better life, then why are you scared of it? When you understand these feelings then you can use them to take those steps towards change, no matter how scary.
There are several reasons change scares you, including:
1. Change can be out of your control
When you think about change, it is usually in the form of a dream you have had, or a lifestyle you have always wanted. What this means however is shifting away from your own status quo.
The life you have built for yourself is familiar, and therefore you have minimised the chances of something becoming out of your control. Yet if something does, you likely also know how to handle it, because you are so well versed in life as it is now.
2. There is no guarantee of success
When you want to move towards change, it usually means something needs to change for the better. The goal of change is to improve in yourself and in your lifestyle. But change does come with a risk. If you aren’t familiar with it, then how do you know it will work? I’m sure you are all too familiar with this thought pattern.
3. Familiarity gives a feeling of safety
With familiarity also comes a sense of safety. The issue with safety is it doesn’t leave much room for change, and that can be an adjustment.
This is why change can feel so scary and difficult. There is nothing wrong with wanting to stay where you are. It feels secure. However, if you want to achieve further, or succeed in new ways, then change does create many new feelings that you may have avoided all of your life.
This is why when deciding to change something, there is a way to do it so that it doesn’t feel like a gigantic leap. You must still feel the anxiety, dread and even procrastination that come up, but you also need to know how to use it and act in the way that’ll give you the best chance of success rather than giving up once you get to that feeling.
Being Scared vs Change. Start winning.
There are some first steps you can take to commit to change. You cannot avoid fear and anxiety all together, but you do not need to dive into the deep end, you can commit yourself to smaller steps:
What’s your ‘Why?’
If you are thinking about it, then you must want to do it for a reason. What is it? It must feel important to you if it scares you so much.
Plan first, step by step.
Having each scary step planned out can make it feel less overwhelming and can then be taken in smaller bites.
Do the first step, without considering the next, and so on.
Only focus your attention on how you can follow through with that one step and do it to the best of your abilities.
No matter what the change is, it is only scary because it is unknown and feels bigger than it needs to feel. Consider where you are now, what you can do today and you can eventually get there.
