Challenge 4: Communication is Key

Why does talking about a difficulty with a friend feel so cleansing? You feel like an invisible weight has been lifted. Even if you don’t reach a resolution or find a solution to a problem, talking about it takes some of the sting out of the experience.

One of the reasons this happens is that you discover you’re not alone. Other people have experienced the same or similar thing. They can provide tips to help you achieve a better outcome.

Communicating what you’re going through is also beneficial. You physically hear your thoughts which can give you a better perspective. As you have this conversation with someone, it is like a brainstorming session with yourself. You find yourself thinking of solutions or possibilities that don’t reveal themselves when you are alone with your thoughts.

For these and other reasons, communicating with someone you care about is essential for navigating change successfully. That’s today’s action exercise.

Exercise: Have an open and honest conversation with someone about a change you’re facing.

Challenge 5: Putting it All Together

The final exercise of your challenge is here. It’s time to create an action plan for mastering change. Review what you’ve learned over the previous four challenges to get the most out of that plan.

You took time to journal about a change you endured and how you felt about the experience. You learned that a growth mindset can help you reframe challenges as opportunities for growth. We shared resilience-building activities with you. Then, you benefited from the power of communicating your problem with someone you care about.

Today, you’re going to put all that together. Keeping that information in mind, move on to final exercise.

Exercise: Write down three actionable steps you will take to embrace change more effectively in your life.

Conclusion

Change often catches us off guard. It can lead to a devastating or extraordinary experience. Even when change looks positive, its impact on your life can still cause unfortunate issues.

Your five part challenge helps you embrace the idea that you can survive any change, however complex. You have the tools to recover from unforeseen or unpredicted experiences that threaten to leave a lasting negative impact.

Turn to this change-mastering guide any time life decides to challenge you. It can help you emerge from the other side of the experience with the best possible outcome and stronger than before.

[Picture – Roberto Nickson – Unsplash]