Resistance to Changes

The saying goes ‘The only thing permanent in life is change’. The saying sounds absolutely true and all of us know there cannot be consistency in the manner we live, our lifestyle, our life cycle, circumstances, relationships etc. However, the knowledge that things are going to change does not lead to realization of the same.

The actual realization comes when we are tested with changes that are sudden and most unexpected. This may throw us off balance most of the times and again the process of balancing and settling down begins, and when things have settled there is another change round the corner.

There is natural resistance to change in many of us, whereas some of us are flexible and like the spontaneity and changes/challenges that are thrown at them. Changes are dreaded because it shakes us from the state of comfort and complacency that we are in. Changes demand extra effort, and challenge the mind to think of ways to adapt and provide solutions to deal with the change.

The mental exertion is what makes change difficult. Our mind gets habituated to a routine, a particular kind of thinking, a certain level of stress or exertion, and a state of equilibrium. When change occurs, all this has to be restructured and it takes a lot of determination and mental strength to move out of this comfort zone. Therefore the resistance.

The resistance to change may also be because of fear that the change is beyond your capacity to handle, you feel ill equipped to meet the challenge, you cannot risk failing, may feel anxious of the process of change, what it will lead to, lack of support or guidance to deal with the change and having a negative attitude about change. The resistance can be lower if you do not allow your mind to be so stubborn, refusing and denying what is happening.