Bookmark Website  | Free Registration  | The Team
The Lounge  | Champions  | The Wire |  Schedule |  Audio  |  Arcade  |  The Top Ten  |  Historical  |  Email  |  Video

Resistance Is Natural - but Not Helpful - in Times of Change


Here are five feelings we all experience in changing times. Check these out for yourself by thinking about times when you were experiencing significant life change, either personal or professional.

1. We feel that our personal security is being threatened;

2. Our conventional expectations are disrupted;

3. Strong "out-of-control" feelings want to take over;

4. Awkwardness and embarrassment occur; and

5. We feel fear that we look foolish - that we're "flailing around."Resistance is normal any time change is occurring, because none of us like these feelings, and yet we all feel them. And the feelings are usually directly proportional to the degree and rapidity of the change that's being asked of us.

In a way, change is a kind of death, because it involves a loss of what has been familiar -- often for a long time. This is true whether or not the change is positive or negative. A terrific new job, for instance, means that an old, familiar job will be lost. A divorce may involve many losses simultaneously - spouse, children, a life style, standing in the community, a home, and so forth.

Don't discount the significance of these losses.

A very important way of looking at resistance is that it isn't something to avoid...it's something to recognize, to pay attention to, to take responsibility for, and to talk about with another person. Unfortunately, many people squash their feelings and thoughts, pretending that things are just going along as usual.

It's far more productive to fully admit the importance of the circumstances, to recognize the losses involved. And if you can find someone else to talk with who's already gone through it, you'll find yourself being supported, because that person has been there, knows what it feels like, and has come out the other side.

Taking responsibility for your thoughts and feelings, and doing the things that honor the underlying emotions that spring from change, will serve you well. The good news is that after a time, your feelings will change and you will begin to move from resistance to the exploration of alternatives.It may be helpful to give you a shot at whatever's going on with you right now. In fact, what's coming up right now may be a reflection of exactly what brought you to the decision to read this article.

On a plain piece of paper jot down these items, then write your answers.

· Item #1: Think about a change (or possible change) in your life. List some of the reasons you feel resistant to this change.

· Item #2: Now list whatever specific ways you can think of to overcome your resistance.

· Item #3: What other thoughts, ideas and feelings are you experiencing right now?

Now, here's what I want you to do with this work. Put aside the paper you've been writing on. Forget it...until tomorrow. Then, look at it again. Ask yourself a couple of questions:

- "Have my reasons changed?"

- "Can I think of any new ways to overcome both old and new feelings?"

Write down your answers, and go do the rest of your day.Do this each day for a week and see what happens!

Copyright 2002, 2005 Optimum Performance Associates/Paul McNeese.Paul McNeese is CEO of Optimum Performance Associates, a consulting firm specializing in transitional and transformational change for individuals and institutions through publication. His publishing company, OPA Publishing, is an advocacy for self-publishing authors of informational, instructional, inspirational and insightful nonfiction. Email: pmcneese@opapublishing.comWebsites: http://www.opapublishing.com and http://www.opapresents.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Wounded Canadiens find motivation in desperation
Yahoo! Sports
Urgency. Desperation. These were the words Michael Cammalleri(notes) used to characterize the mindset of his Montreal Canadiens heading ...

and more »


Windsor finding motivation after being tagged as underdog
Windsor Beacon
The Windsor High School football team stayed a night in Steamboat Springs on Friday and got up this morning to go settle a score. ...

and more »


The Star-Ledger - NJ.com

'Chip on shoulder' gave Tim Brown motivation to become Rutgers' No. 1 wide ...
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
Noah K. Murray/The Star-ledgertim Brown has managed to make the catches for Rutgers despite being 5-8, like this touchdown ...



Chattanooga Times Free Press

Vols fighting through injuries
Columbia Daily Herald
“That was part of my motivation, to stay out there and give those guys a little leadership and guidance ... and keep the guys heads in the game. ...
Bowl is Vol goalDawg Post (subscription)

all 98 news articles »


New York Daily News

Fort Hood shooting splits America over Islamic terror motive
Christian Science Monitor
But some US lawmakers see the terrorism analogy as fundamentally important to the inquiry — not just into Hasan's motivations, but to national security ...
Fort Hood: The War at HomeForeign Policy In Focus
Does it matter whether we call Hasan a terrorist?Dallas Morning News
The Fort Hood Shootings Have Al Qeda Written All Over ItAsianWeek
FrontPage Magazine
all 1,903 news articles »


Wildcats use last year's game as motivation, lesson
Oregon Daily Emerald
When the Arizona Wildcats (6-3, 4-2 Pacific-10 Conference) visited Autzen Stadium last year they found themselves down two ...

and more »


UTEP Miners have motivation vs. Rice
American Chronicle
Motivation comes in different forms for two teams looking for closing flourishes to dress up losing seasons. Still, there is no shortage of that motivation. ...



CBC.ca

With motivation from Pierce, Rondo turned up his game against Warriors
Providence Journal
By ROBERT LEE BOSTON – When Rajon Rondo entered training camp, the Celtics wanted him to show that he could be a consistent star night in and night out. ...
Perkins Talking Bout Practice, Practice!Hardwood Houdini (blog)
Rivers looks inward for answers to woesBoston Globe

all 509 news articles »


MiamiHerald.com

Smokers get motivation to quit from great American Smokeout
TopNews United States
This Thursday is the Great American Smoke Out, which is being used for more than 30 years to help aid them in quitting smoking. As per a survey conducted by ...
Activists target city's high rate of smokingWorcester Telegram

all 579 news articles »


Albany Times Union

OUR LEAGUE: Plenty of motivation for Clemson
Charlottesville Daily Progress
... a season-opening loss, a win in the last home game of the season and the last ACC game of the season and Senior Day, to name some motivating factors. ...
Gameday preview: Clemson vs. VirginiaThe State

all 561 news articles »

Google News


Advertisement



Section Site Map - Submit News - Feedback - Comments - Advertise with Us

Copyright © 2006 Luminati Inc. All rights reserved.