Maturity arrives through experience and not through revelations.
Revelations make you dependent on others; life’s lessons make you independent.
Sometimes, change needs both time and attention. If you don’t allow it adequate time and focus, you won’t be able to master the skills required to adapt and meet the change.
Overcoming the Challenge of Change
If you are faced with major change you can overcome it by:
Developing skills and capacities for managing change and living in harmony with the environment.
Developing positive and proactive ways of dealing with loss and of learning and growing through adversity.
Keeping open lines of constructive communication and discovering and taking advantage of new opportunities through change.
Regardless of the situation, you can always adapt to new circumstances, becoming stronger and more knowledgeable about the changes. If hard times come, remember that they don’t last forever, unless you allow them to. When encountering a rough patch, make plans to adjust for better times.
Reap the Rewards that Come with Change
Recognizing the value in change can ease the trauma it causes. You can create a roadmap for the future by anticipating change and looking at the nature of the opportunity it provides. You can reassess your goals and expectations. You can display your leadership traits by helping others cope with change. You can maintain equilibrium amid change by keeping to your centre.
During my early years, while working for a major accounting firm, I was nicely told to find a different job. I was told that the firm did not want to let me go, but this particular job was not my “cup of tea.” So whenever I was ready to leave, I could leave. I gave my notice the next day. This gave me the impetus to complete my Certified General Accountants examination much quicker. I joined a well-established smaller firm and later became a senior partner in that firm. The flexibility acquired from working with the smaller firm enabled me to pursue other interests, including speaking and writing. I could not have pursued those interests while working with the larger firm, and an eventual partnership in that firm was only a distant dream.
Adjusting to change is like jumping into a pool of cold water. At first, you feel shock and discomfort. But the longer you stay in, the more pleasant the new environment becomes. Once the body adjusts to the change in water temperature, you’re ready to call out, “Come on in; the water’s fine.” In the same way, you’ll adjust to new business and social environments and soon find them as comfortable as the old – and more stimulating.
(Excerpt from the book, Life Balance, The Sufi Way by Azim Jamal & Nido Qubein)