“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.

Alan Watt

Life changes constantly. There are positive changes such as the birth of a baby, marriage, or the achievement of a goal. There are negative changes such as a loved one passing away, the end of a job, or the end of a relationship. Reality is that change is constant and sometimes change is so small that it is easy to not even recognize it. In order to adjust to this, you have to learn how to handle each change that comes your way.

If something positive happens in your life, whether you’re expecting it or not, it is best to just accept and embrace it. Regardless of your feelings towards this positive change, accept it and remind yourself that no matter how this came about, this change came about to improve your life. I remember meeting a client that was very depressed, and in her depression she constantly saw things in a negative way because she believed she did not deserve positivity. As we worked towards changing these thoughts, embracing the positive changes in her life made a big difference in the improvement of her mood.

Negative change is inevitable at certain times in our life. When it comes at an unexpected moment, it is easy to become overwhelmed and react by shutting down. Yet, at this time it is best to just roll with it as best you can. On the other hand, when circumstances show that negative change is coming, you can prepare yourself and act on it. For the past year, my uncle had been talking about how scared he was about the rumors that the power plant where he worked was going to shut down. What he could’ve done was begin looking for a new job. Instead, he waited until the bad news came and had to deal with the frustration, fear, and range of other emotions associated with being laid off and then finding and starting a new job.

Changes that stem from emotions are probably the hardest to handle. When you’re in love, everything seems great and change is usually taken well. But when there’s heart break, negative emotions make it very hard to accept, embrace, roll with, or make changes before hand. The best way to handle this situation is to take your time, process all feelings, and seek support from loved ones.

If you are having difficulty coping with change in your life, please contact Life Enhancement Counseling Services today at 407-443-8862 to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced Orlando mental health counselors.