Whether you say “life couldn’t be better” – “things couldn’t be worse” – “or everything’s just fine” … the one thing that’s absolutely certain … things will change. It’s the most basic universal law of physics here on planet earth, everything in this reality of ours changes.
One doesn’t have to be a genius to figure out that massive, unprecedented change is everywhere these days. Personal / Interpersonal dynamics (anxiety; depression; stress related disease; immune deficiency disease, cancer; shifting relational domestic roles; gender relations & income earning potential; etc.).
Business dynamics (ethic, gender, generation, sexual orientation issues; developing employee and customer relations instead of swimming with the sharks; blending personal and professional fulfillment; balancing work and play; etc.). Global dynamics (environmental; economic; political; natural disasters; etc.).
Proactive people want change (personal, relational, professional), and may be actively engaged in causing any number of things to change. However when change actually starts to happen, the Fear-Factor kicks in, and we each have our own way of responding or reacting.
The definition of change is non-threatening; it’s the Fear-Factor that freaks us out. Matter itself doesn’t necessarily want to be different from what it already is, and these bodies we inhabit are made up of physical, emotional and mental matter. To reduce the Fear-Factor of change, we need to understand what fear is, and the difference between real and imagined fear.
Real Fear
When we sense imminent danger, we ought to pay attention. It’s our fight-or-flight mechanism, which is our primal survival instinct. Looking over a steep cliff might cause the body to shake nervously, because it knows that once over the edge it has no way of protecting itself. A bad feeling about a person or place could be an emotional intuition telling us something’s not right. Frustration or defensiveness over a course of action or activity could be the intellect suggesting that what we’re doing might produce undesirable ramifications, an unfavorable outcome, or worse.
Imagined Fear
When we hold the idea of rejection, limitation or failure, we create fears that don’t really exist. The brain is like a computer doing a never ending Google search. Whatever keywords or ideas we suggest, our brain looks to verify, and more often than not, finds information that supports our imagined fear as real. Bottom-line, if you imagine a poor outcome for a situation, it’s likely that’s what will happen.
Interesting that all military special-forces use a mind-set of “No Retreat – No Surrender" & "Failure Is Not An Option”, and they are able to do things most of us would consider impossible.
The Ghost of Fear - Past
Back in primitive times our fear was physiological and based totally on the fight-or-flight mechanism. We had to deal with whatever we were presented with; environmental conditions, predatory animals, warring factions, etc. Daily existence was considerably different back then; no mortgage on the cave, so no chance of repossession, no utility bills, no property or vehicle expenses. A good size club could easily protect the family against potential intruders at a single and defendable entry. The same club proved equally effective at procuring food and clothing for the clan or tribe.
Life was harsh, but the fears of the times were identifiable. We could take an immediate course of action against that which was causing the fear, so there wasn’t this thing we call stress.
The Ghost of Fear - Present
Today fear is more psychological than physiological. Will my health last? Will I ever find the right partner? Will my marriage or relationship last? Is my job secure? Will I be able to pay my bills? Will I ever be able to afford the lifestyle I desire?
There isn’t a club big enough in today’s world to make us feel better about any of these situations. We’re up against invisible and unforeseen forces that don’t play by a definable set of rules, yet the fight-or-flight mechanism is still engaged. The problem is that without having a course of action to defend against the fear … we develop stress in a myriad of forms.
The Ghost of Fear - Future
When things are going well it’s easy to go along with the good times, however when major pillars of our societal structure are fracturing, it’s difficult to think happy thoughts and enjoy pleasant feelings. Watching planes fly into the World Trade Center did not create very many happy smiling faces, regardless of our mind-set or belief system.
The Fear-Factor of Change in the future is considerable. What’s happening with the economy? Why are people killing one another in the name of God and country? Are political agendas going to be the undoing of society? Will our children, or their children, have an environment with air to breathe and water to drink?
Many people want to be responsible humans in today’s world, yet watching the news about the seeming insanity and devastation going on makes us crazy. These fears are so abstract that we feel powerless as individuals because our actions seem insignificant. Again the fight-or-flight mechanism is engaged on an extremely subtle, subconscious level. The result … more stress!
The Collateral Damage of Stress
Fear, real or imagined, produces stress and releases chemicals into the body which cause our internal organs, including the brain, to function at lower than optimal levels. We experience this as anxiety, depression, insomnia, digestive disorders, etc.
Strength, endurance, sensory acuity, creativity, and compassion are all compromised. So, change elicits a fear-Factor that creates physical, emotional and mental stresses, is it any wonder why we have an innate resistance to change.
Internal Elements of Change T
he science of Somatics is defining how bio-electrical energy flows through our mental, emotional and physical wiring. The way we handle this internal energy determines our ability to successfully accomplish the task at hand. If what we are trying to do, or up against, is outside our comfort zone or too overwhelming it activates the Fear-Factor which in turn causes stress.
Likewise, if we are equal to the task at hand and able to work with these internal energies effectively, we experience a sense of confidence, well-being and even joy at what we’re doing or involved with.
Environmental Influences Neuro-Somatics is defining how the environment influences us on a cellular level through biophotons. Who we are with, and the place we are at, is having more of an impact on us than we ever imagined.
Experts have told us for years that who we spend time with and where that time is spent shapes our future for better or worse. Now there’s scientific proof that this is true.
3 Steps to Reduce the Fear-Factor of Change
Step #1 – Awareness Developing an ever-increasing awareness of how you yourself process information, feelings & experience. Developing an ever-increasing awareness of how those you interact with process information, feelings & experience.
Step #2 – Communication Having an ever-increasing understanding of specifically what you are expressing (visually, audibly & kinesthetically) to someone or a group dynamic. Having an ever-increasing understanding of specifically what is being received by those you are communicating to (visually, audibly & kinesthetically).
Step #3 – Leadership Assess the current personal, relational or organizational position, and determine the desired destination. Strategize a personal, relational or organizational game plan with measureable markers to reach the desired destination. Establish a form of accountability (consultant, coach, mentor, partner, etc.) to measure the effectiveness of action steps being taken.
Often we are provided with a set of seemingly simple steps promising to help us on our quest for improvement in one way or another. Yet all too often these formulas take us on a magical mystery tour, leaving us no better off than when we started. To that end we suggest using supportive people and environments to reduce your Fear-Factor.
Supportive Environments of Change Given the environment has either positive or negative influences on us, it seems reasonable to choose supportive environments. Thus we reduce the Fear-Factor of having to do it all by ourselves. It’s easier to embrace change when people around us are having a similar experience.
Going to a gym or doing activities which involve other people. Taking a class or reading books about things we’re interested in. Exposing ourselves to art and culture that stimulate us. Being around people of like mind or interest. Ensuring your intimate relationships support you. Developing a passion in your professional life. Creating a work-place culture that’s synergistic.
Accepting the inevitability of change, and developing skill sets which create the types of change that best serve us, we place ourselves at the cause of personal, relational and professional change, rather than our age old instinct of fight-or-flight. Being in the driver’s seat of change is empowering. Causative change is the most worthy of undertakings.
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