People often avoid change; opting for predictability and control, rather than the more stoic, flowing style of embracing life’s challenges. But life is a dynamic balance of negatives and positives, and focusing on the positive aspects of change can be the difference between growing under duress and thriving in any environment, or experiencing continuing stress and anxiety. Let’s explore some potential positives of change? The Ceridian foundation (2002: 3-4) is a source for the following insights into positive change.

The Creation of New Opportunities

Without change survival would be impossible. Culture, agriculture, education, business would all fail. You don’t have to like all aspects of change (there may be some disadvantages or even teething problems with some change) but there may be useful or interesting benefits as well.

Studies of some communities and sects (and they are extremely rare) that have denied change of any sort and prevented the flow of people and information to and from the communities and development of any new ideas have been found to be totally unsustainable and have survived no more than a few generations before breaking up.

Similarly if an individual or a family is resistant to change, they will also fail to adapt and significant health and other problems will be inevitable in their lives. New opportunities may arise out of a change in employment, or a change in learning, or a change in eating and exercise (maybe look sexier), or a change in a political party, a change based upon research evidence and so on.

Keeping You Flexible

Avoiding getting set in your ways and do try being open to new ideas and ways of working or living. They may not always work but they keep your mind open to suggestions and forming creative solutions or approaches to coping.

Building Self-Confidence

Change and personal growth and development have been well established in research findings. Being in one’s own comfort zone can lead to some contentment for a while, but as time goes on you lose or don’t acquire confidence and abilities and skills and become out of touch. This can lead to social isolation and feelings of marginalisation or alienation as others around you function more effectively in a changing world.

You Can Be Educated

The most obvious area is learning from research and how this can lead, for example, to exciting and important new scientific and medical advances, or lead to understanding healthier ways of living.

You Can Focus On Your Priorities

There are opportunities to develop new perspectives, and the pressure of change can force you to make decisions or problem-solve – a bit painful perhaps but it really focuses your attention to what you believe is valuable or important to you as a reason for adopting the change.

It Can Build Your Strengths

With each change and adaptation people have degrees of success and with each experience of coping with change; self-worth and self-esteem develop and provides resilience or strength and knowledge to deal with further changes when they occur.