ISSUE 23 PONDERS by Ponderosa Golf

PONDEROSA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB NEWSLETTER
FACING FEAR OF CHANGE
THE NEW NORMAL
There are reasons why everyone has a ‘comfort zone’. Basically, everyone has a fear of
change because of the level of uncertainty associated to change that makes so many
people avoid it. The hardest changes to understand are the ones that are unexpected
and out of our control. Now, for instance, we are in the throes of a global pandemic that
is challenging everyone to adapt to a new normal.
2 ways of coping with change
• Escape coping
• Control coping
Escape coping is the most common. It involves
avoiding or taking deliberate actions to avoid the
difficulties of the change. During the current
pandemic, for instance, there are still people
who deny the importance of face masks or social
distancing.
Control coping, on the other hand, is positive and
proactive. You refuse to behave like a “victim” of
change. Instead, you manage your feelings and
do whatever you can to be part of the change.
In reality, most of us respond to change with a
mixture of both escape and control coping.
Stages of Reacting to Change
We usually react to change in four stages,
although there is often no clear-cut, decisive
move from one stage to another.
1. Shock and disorientation
Experiencing a
sudden, big change
can feel like a physical
blow. For example,
sudden loss of job due
to a global financial
crisis, a sudden death
in the family or health
issues that threatens
security and stability
that changes your
fundamental outlook
on life. Initially, there is confusion and uncertainty.
The first priority should be to keep calm, be
rationale and to seek reliable information to
make sense of the situation. Positivity at this
stage is important.
2. Anger and other emotional responses
The initial shock or disorientation will often
accompany strong emotions such as anger,
anxiety, or fear of the impact
of loss or potential loss for you
and your family. It is natural to
feel swings between pessimism
and optimism but the most
important is to avoid suppressing
your emotions. It is ok to talk
about it to a loved one or to cry
even, but eventually the key is to
manage them by acknowledging
how you feel.
3. Coming to terms with the “new normal”
You are starting to
let go and think
of the next ‘new’
step. This process
may be slow,
and you might
be reluctant to
acknowledge
it, but it’s an
essential part
of coping with
change. The key
here is to make a commitment to move on. Be
patient as coming to terms with change is a
gradual process.
4. Acceptance and moving forward
Here is where you come
to fully accept your
changed circumstances.
Acceptance doesn’t
mean giving up entirely
on or forgetting your
former situation but
that you are beginning
to move on, whether in
your career or in your
wider life. You can
set yourself goals and
create an action plan to make the most of your
new situation.
Adapted from an online article in https://www.
mindtools.com