Change – A Word for Your Day

By Jane Bishop

What is it about the word CHANGE that can make us smile or frown, be happy or frustrated? Change is “to make or become different.” We are experiencing change more rapidly than perhaps at any time in history. We have access to “instant” almost anything. Add to that the impact of social media and how it has changed how we communicate, think, and feel. It can foster a feeling of belonging, or fuel feelings of isolation or polarization.

In the book Change is Good…You Go First, the authors give twenty-one ways to inspire change while challenging readers to confront their own view and response to change. One of many outtakes of the book is “if you don’t like change, you are going to like irrelevance even less.” Stop, pause, and think on that nugget for a moment.

To experience “good” change requires practicing change therapy which helps develop change agility. I was exposed to change therapy and learned the basics of change agility early in life. The first eighteen years of my life, my family and I lived in eleven different cities, five different states, and one foreign country. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, that practice of packing, moving, fitting in, learning a new area, etc. then repeat was teaching me change agility skills. One of the valuable lessons learned that continues to fuel me is acknowledging I cannot always control the change. However, I can control how I respond to change.

Change agility was a topic I posed to coaching colleagues from the United States, Scotland, and Africa in a recent conversation. I asked how they had honed their change agility skills. Answers included: listening, being open to other perspectives, teachable, and not getting lost in all the “stuff,” patience, and humility. What will it take for you to practice change therapy to develop strong change agility skills? Author Stacy Aaron said, “When considering change, remember there is an emotional connection necessary for people to commit to new ways.”

Ponder this: what emotional connection is necessary for you to embrace change?

Try these exercises to get started: 1) Use a crayon to write the word “change” on paper with your dominant hand. Repeat using your non-dominant hand. What did you experience? 2) On the other side of that paper, write “change is good.” List what immediately surfaces.

Some have found insights from The Serenity Prayer helpful as they acknowledge and embrace change. The prayer reveals five timeless truths that challenge us to re-imagine what serenity really is, which can help us with change therapy: 1) Acceptance is not laziness; 2) We must have courage to change ourselves; 3) Hardship can be good for you; 4) Surrendering requires courage, too; 5) Happiness is attainable – now and in the future.

As a professional coach, I can help you create positive interruptions for your change agility. Remember, change is good! You go first!

More information at www.janebishoplive.com.

One Man’s Opinion

Continued from page 10 by CherryFest featured artist Don McLean. The 2023 concert festival also showcases former “boy band” Hanson and Band of Horses. All the performances are also daytime and outdoors.

Following years of this seemingly never-ending pandemic, these events offer a great way to break out and enjoy the spring weather and the outdoors again, surrounded by other concert and festival goers, neighbors, and music fans, as well as friends and family enjoying the shows, without spending nearly $100 per person (the current average ticket price for a live concert or music festival). The City of Brookhaven and festival/concert sponsors underwrite most costs of the festival, with only food and vendor wares available at cost. CherryFest, transit shuttles and parking are also free. Similar event set up and no admission fees in Conyers, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere make for a downright rosy way to get your spring on. Pack sunscreen, and no crowd surfing if you are over 30. So VERY Cherry.

Bill Crane owns the full-service communications firm CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com