When we find ourselves going through any kind of change in our lives, our natural response may be to tense up on the physical, mental, or emotional level. Rhino, did you notice I said “when” not “if” we go through change? We may not even notice that we have braced ourselves against a potentially positive change until we recognize the anxiety, mood swings, or worried feelings we are showing to others.
Recently I had to end our relationship with two out of my three managers at one of my restaurants. The employees at that restaurant had a choice. They could focus on being scared about who is going to take over, they could think that they are next, they could resist the change or they could step it up and be excited that we did what was best for that restaurant, our employees, and our guests. They could choose to become part of the solution, part of the new energy in the building and part of the positive culture creating an even better end product.
There are positive ways to move through change without also pushing it away or attempting to deny that it is happening. Since change will occur in almost every aspect of our lives, we can learn how to respond to it. Welcoming the new, while releasing the past sometimes seems harder than it really is. Try it, Rhino!
One thing we can do right now is change our perspective by changing the labels we use to identify what we feel. We can reframe the feelings of anxiety with eager expectation. You may have heard me reference “Fake it ‘til you make it” before. In other words, we have the power to think positive thoughts and possibilities that actually short out the negative feelings. When we acknowledge that good is there for us to find, we shift the focus on things that will help to carry us forward, not the things that will hold us back.
For instance, perhaps you heard through the grapevine recently that your company is going to start laying off people.Are you going to focus on the thought “I’m next,” or do everything you can to show your value? You might even start to take an inventory on your passions, update your resume, make sure your network is strong, and “act as if” you are on stage 100% of the time making positive impressions everywhere you go.
It’s your choice how you are going to react to change. Start by looking in the mirror today. What do you need to do to positively embrace change?
RHINO ACTION! Take the following action steps to break the normal grazing responses to change.
1. Face it!In most cases, it’s not going to magically go away.
2. Don’t shift blame for the problems or challenges the change might have uncovered.The Blame Game is for the cows. You're a Rhino!
3. Accept responsibility.A Rhino does this immediately.It saves time and energy. Accepting responsibility for a problem when it exists and coming up with positive solutions breaks the cycle of negative energy and creates new ideas and progress.
4. Take positive Rhino action by charging forward towards a solution. When change presents itself, as it always will, accept responsibility for your role in it, and work toward positive outcomes!
