Growing in the Face of Change by Laura Ducharme

Growing in the Face of Change

by Laura Ducharme

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” Paul Coehlo – The Alchemist

Since March 11, each one of us has faced a new way of being. This time of isolation has forced change upon us, and for many, the experience of intense loss. This pause has also provided us with both the opportunity and distance to reflect on aspects of our lives that may need to be changed. If the only constant is change, embracing it when it arises may equip us with the resilience to overcome loss and maintain an openness to future opportunity.

The morning of March 11th began for me with a mixture of hope and anxiety concerning an interview for a promotion within my organization. By the afternoon, all my personal angst was forgotten as discussions with my colleagues turned quickly to the World Health Organization (WHO) pandemic announcement. By the end of day, our office was in full emergency response mode with attempts to maintain a safe social distance our new priority. Within a week, a remote work-outof-home environment was my new reality. My private practice was forced into virtual mode and my family of five faced new realities which included job loss, school closure, hiring freeze, and a salary cut. With so much change and uncertainty, we were also given time to reflect, evaluate, appreciate, and plan. Together, these steps create a foundation for growth. Reflect - Our abrupt separation from people, commitments, and routines offers us a rare opportunity for personal reflection. A mindful attitude toward loss, change, and uncertainty develops resilience. Reflection can also be the impetus to leave behind what no longer brings us joy and to consider starting something new. Evaluate - This requires us to identify sources of purpose and joy while recognizing obstacles to this fulfillment. An evaluation of our commitments, relationships, and beliefs may give us a sharper picture of what we want to modify internally, as well as externally.

Appreciate - Most vital in the face of uncertainty is the power of gratitude. The practice of identifying and expressing our appreciation for the sources of our joy can shift our mindset, improve our health, increase our life satisfaction, and cultivate confidence to prepare us for change.

Plan - With a focus on these assets as well as our past accomplishments and strengths, we can look to the future to consider things we have longed to do. The loss of a job or the end of a relationship can be the steppingstone to new directions and dreams. Life, it seems, rarely goes according to plan. One of my favourite career theorists, John Krumboltz, with his Planned Happenstance Theory (Mitchell, Levin, & Krumboltz, 1999) suggests that unplanned and chance events can lead to positive vocational outcomes. The term itself is an oxymoron as you cannot plan your happenstance, but you can capitalize on serendipity and seize chance opportunities through open-mindedness, flexibility, curiosity, tenacity, and optimism. Grow - Although the changes we have faced due to COVID-19 were imposed on us in an instant, growth is an internal process that takes time. Anxiety from uncertainty and sudden life changes can be a catalyst for growth. However, unlike change, growth is always positive. The inundation of the phrase ‘we are all in this together’ is meant to comfort us with the knowledge that our anxiety, our challenges, and our condition is a shared experience. What may be more comforting is the discovery of our own way out of it through personal growth. Mitchell, K. E., Levin, A. S., & Krumboltz, J. D. (1999). Planned happenstance: constructing unexpected career opportunities, Journal of Counseling and

Development, 77(2), 115-124.

About the Author

Laura Ducharme is a certified career development practitioner, psychometrist, and educator providing counselling for career seekers as well as vocational support for clients with disabilities. Her experience in the area of teaching and advocacy is diverse, with over 15 years of employment in public education and developmental services, while maintaining a full-time focus on her family. Currently, she promotes employment readiness skills to co-operative education students at the University of Windsor as well as career counselling and psychometric assessment in her private practice. Laura is currently completing her term as Board Member and Chair of Certification for the OAMHP.