Rolling with the Punches
Renita C. Gabriel, Psy.D., contributing editor
http://www.breakthroughspsycservices.com
Change is happening all around us. As the fall season approaches and we witness the hot sticky days of summer turn into cool autumn nights, and the sound of children splashing around at the local pools being replaced by the rumbling of big yellow school buses, the reality of change becomes even more evident. Perhaps it goes without saying that while some change is readily embraced, some is not. The difference in how life altering circumstances are experienced often is related to the level of control one perceives to have over that particular situation. Consider an individual who is retiring from a job after several decades versus an individual who is laid off from a job after the same amount of time. Both will undergo transition as they leave the job, however, the one who retired may adapt better to the circumstances given that he or she had more control over his or her departure. Regardless of whether or not an individual has control over the change in their lives, they have to choose how they respond to it. The key to our success or failure in the midst of life’s transitions is our response to it. Do we adapt to the change or do we persist in our rigid ways of thinking and behaving?
Many mental health ailments are maintained by an individual’s inability to cope adequately with change. Some people become stuck in a distorted way of thinking which impacts their behaviors and relationships with others. These individuals “do the same thing and expect different results.” Perhaps Charles Darwin’s notion of survival of the fittest and adaptation best illustrates which individuals tend to thrive in the midst of life’s transitions. They are those who adapt to their circumstances or who essentially “roll with the punches.”
As you experience change in your lives this season, I encourage you to consider the following T.I.P.
Transitions can be challenging—acknowledge this truth.
Identify your options for dealing with the change you are facing.
Pick the one option or combination that best fits the circumstance and put it into practice.
Disclaimer-Please note that the monthly “TIP” does not constitute a therapeutic relationship with the readership nor substitute for a professional consultation with a licensed mental health professional.
