I have always prided myself on the ability to be agile. When asked multiple times how I juggle so much, I have jokingly replied, I am a “master of change“. I deal with change with the best of them and carry on. I am the one who encourages and pushes for changes a lot of the time as I get bored, restless, or want to strive for better. I am usually the one leading the crusade and encouraging everyone to jump on board or just keeping moving through it. I understand change can be good or bad, welcomed or unwanted, but my philosophy has always been to make it work with what you have been given; however, I will admit this year has tested my skills.
This year has been full of changes in just about every aspect of my life. I have had multiple changes in my career and responsibilities as well as change with our adult “kids”, family health, finances, home, and friendships. Most for the better, some for the worse, but in general, just changes. I started off the year ready to tackle the world but as the year went on I began to let the constant movement impact me.
I let the stress of all of the changes take over and I started shutting out the things I love to do in order to have energy for the rest. I stopped writing as often, became inconsistent with my workouts, turned down volunteer opportunities that I love, and began to worry about many things outside of my control. Ironically, I gave up everything I used to control stress. I began gaining the dreaded weight again that took me years to lose the first time. I let everyone else’s problems become mine. Many days I felt like a passenger on a ship in a storm trying to just hold on and not slip overboard.
Fighting the Storm
This stress level was showing in my relationships and in my work. The negativity I was trying so hard to fight, kept winning. But as we are approaching the end of the year things are calmer and I am finding my sea legs again. I am finding time to take for the things I love and still practicing mindfulness and meditation. I am reminding myself to focus on what I can control and work with the hand that is dealt.
One thing helping reinforce this is the fact that even with all of the changes, I still have an amazing life. I have worked hard to be where I am and its worth the energy to sway with the ship. I remind myself of this everyday. I have to focus on the positives coming out of the changes and balance what I can of the rest. I know I can because after all I am a “master of change”, or at least I can pretend to be.
For the rest of you trying to manage it all – how do you deal with change?