Living change better? Yes, change is scary, but it can also be eagerly awaited. In either case, we can’t say we’re very zen. Either we live in fear, or we live in impatience and frustration. That’s why I’m sharing 6 tips on how to cope with change.

1 – Living through change: focusing on the present moment

Living change better means making the decision to focus on the present moment.

When change comes without warning, or when it is longed for, we leave no room for what is in the here and now.

Yes, we’re too busy mourning what we’ve lost or what’s yet to come.

In fact, we consider the present moment to have no value. Indeed, it no longer interests us, because it’s not the way we’d like it to be.

Our life is not just a change, it’s our past, our future, but above all our present. And if we open our hearts to the present, it has a lot to offer us. Yes, if only for the chance to breathe, to dance, to smile, to eat, to laugh…

To live change better is to remember that we are what we do, right here, right now, and not what we could have done or what we won’t be able to do again.

To live zen, I wholeheartedly invite you to be fully present to what’s happening to you.

2 – Making lists

To live change better, we have to decide to see concretely who we are and what we are capable of.

That’s why I invite you to make lists:

your successes and failures
your faults and qualities
your skills and strengths
Without judgment, write down everything you’ve done and everything you are. And, read these lists again.

Why do you do this? Because when you look at them, you won’t be able to lie or complain. You’ll realize that you’ve survived your failures, that you’ve even learned from them, that you’ve achieved things and, above all, that you’re not perfect. Yes, you’re not perfect, and neither is your life.

But you’re still making progress, slowly but surely. So don’t waste your time thinking you can’t do it. It’s just one more change and you’ll see many more. To live is to bounce back.

3 – Coping with change: put things into perspective

Living change better means deciding to put things into perspective.

Sometimes, when a change occurs without warning in our daily lives, we go berserk or feel panic-stricken.

We’re angry because life is so unfair, or we’re scared because we don’t think we’re up to it.

So, I invite you to ask yourself a question:

In 10 years’ time, will this new situation still have an impact on your life?
If not, breathe and take action.

If it does, take a breath and step back. In fact, if in 10 years’ time this change still affects you, it means you’re dealing with an important event in your life that requires you to take care of yourself.

Don’t let anger or sadness overwhelm you, find a way to deal with them as best you can, listen to them and express them, then keep moving forward, slowly but surely.

4 – Think “opportunity”

To live change better is to make the decision to learn something.

Do you know the school of life? We entered it at birth, only to leave it at death. Yes, life is a school and we are its students.

I know it’s hard to see the opportunity behind certain changes, but after all, we have our whole lives to see that opportunity. Indeed, we don’t have to learn about change in a second, we can take as much time as we need.

Yet remaining open to the very idea of finding an opportunity in what’s happening to us will enable us to be more accepting, and thus less rejecting and resisting.

On a lighter note, fortunately not all the changes in our lives are so serious. For example: it’s raining and we had planned to go for a walk. Why not replace the walk by making pancakes at home?

5 – Accept “simply” to live Zen

No matter how loudly we shout our anger or despair, what is, is.

We are both masters of our ship and subject to fate. Some things rest solely on our shoulders, others not at all. We can’t avoid them, but we have to overcome them.

So, I invite you to breathe calmly and… accept. Repeat to yourself: let go, let go, let go. Yes, let go of everything. Don’t resist, don’t reject, just accept.

I know there are unacceptable things, and yet we have to accept the unacceptable.

In such cases, don’t be alone. Besides, you’re not alone. Know that what you’re going through, others have gone through, are going through and will go through. We’re all part of the human family, so hold on tight to get better and better.

Don’t close yourself off, on the contrary, open yourself up. Open up to your emotions, however strong they may be, and surround yourself with those you love.

Accept it.

6 – Coping with change: keeping hope alive

If things don’t go as planned, it’s perfectly normal. In fact, change is the only constant in life and in the Universe.

In other words, keep on living, doing your best, having goals and taking small steps every day to achieve them, but remain open to change.

Always be hopeful! Even when things get in the way of your dreams, accept them, learn from them and keep going.

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover Fear of change: 7 tips for accepting change
Discover Change your negative thoughts: 6 positive habits

I recommend this inspiring book:

Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes by William Bridges

This book addresses the psychological and emotional aspects of life change. William Bridges explores how we can cope with the challenges of transition, offering insights into understanding the process, managing emotions and finding meaning in the midst of change. The book provides a roadmap for approaching life’s transitions with resilience and a sense of purpose.

I loved this book. It explained so much about why I was feeling so much anxiety and frustration about the big changes in my life. It helped me recognize that I simply had to let go and live with the uncertainty inherent in transitions. This is part of the journey and offers opportunities for growth.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself