Consideration, encouragement, and commitment are within our personal reach

Our evolving culture demands transformation, and at a much quicker pace than in the past.

Most of the time, when faced with adjustments in our lives, the results turn out okay — even good or great. And occasionally, the hurdles placed in our path seem more like a test with open-ended, rhetorical questions, often leaving us with a sense of confusion or lack of direction.

So how do we guide ourselves through the inevitable transitions affecting our focus and goals — with as little discomfort as possible? The answer may lie in your perspective of the situations and people around you. Because we all have a choice in determining how we interpret the circumstances in our lives.

And with this personal control comes responsibility for the ultimate outcome of our decisions — especially when those unavoidable changes require us to integrate their influence into our existence and future.

That’s where most people become stuck. Positive adjustments are easy to acknowledge and accept. They’re typically progressive and beneficial, becoming welcome trends to those who recognize their value and the impact their affect can have on society.

And then there are the questionable, even negative disruptions that block our path and focus. When a dissenting issue or person shows up, we’re often left confused, irritated, and steadfast in our resistance to allow them the space to make a case. But this mindset can be limiting, because in many cases, that change we’re attempting to dispel will probably take place in some form or fashion — whether we like it or not.

So how do we decide when, or if, to jump onto the culture train and take a ride? When the possibilities being offered ring true for you. And while you may hear the pinging in your ears, it’s best to remember the bell doesn’t toll for everyone at the same time.

Fair warning: Allowing yourself to be open, curious, and adaptable takes courage and a bit of risk. Why? Because the nature of our society is to continually challenge the way we think, believe, and act. And this ultimate truth touches on our basic fear of how easily those outside influences can disrupt our carefully-crafted comfort zone.

Here are a few tips to help navigate the bumpy road of progress, with as few cuts and bruises as possible.

• Accept the inevitable — While evaluating any life shift is important, there typically comes a time when the information you receive triggers a sense of clarity — an understanding you instinctively recognize as being true. And only you can determine that tipping point of acceptance — when truth and evidence rise above myth and conjecture.
• Acknowledge that not every change may be right for you — When change is thrown in your path, it may be time to take another route. For example, a new supervisor steps into the picture with a different plan or agenda that’s no longer compatible with the work you chose to do. Which means you can accept and adapt to the new strategy, or consider the situation as a signal — and an opportunity to move on.
• Embrace the new and let the old find a place in the past — By consciously adopting an exciting, even encouraging approach to change, we’re effectively telling ourselves things will be okay — even welcomed. And what begins to shift is your attitude and motivation, potentially enough to leave the past behind as you realign your mindset and goals.
• Be aware and mindful of others experiencing the same feelings as you — Change typically brings out those of like mind. And while it’s easy to slip into the “misery loves company” mentality, it’s best to utilize the comradery of others to jointly consider a positive outcome.
• Always move toward the future — We rarely think about the unseen challenges going on around us, until the goal has been met. For example, a young sapling in the forest struggles for water, sunshine, and space in the soil to expand its roots. Without the support of necessary nutrients and natural encouragement, the sprout may become a lure for insects to settle in and weaken its natural defenses. Unknown shifts in weather and exposure are constant battles. And its not until the sapling has surpassed these challenges and displays it’s leafy, shady foliage do we understand the result was worth the effort to prevail.

Consideration, encouragement, and commitment are within our personal reach. And these guidelines can become reliable companions along our journey to a happy, fulfilling, and purposeful life. Give positive progress a chance — and an occasional nudge along the way.

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