O P I N I O N
My Thoughts Exactly
By Brian Chicoine
President John F. Kennedy said, “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”
Back in 1971 (yes, almost 55 years ago), David Bowie released his song, “Changes.” Change, my friends, is a part of life. We don’t always like it; it can cause us fear and anxiety (especially because there are often many unknowns), but it happens in all our lives. One day, we are enjoying the status quo of our lives, and BAM!, seemingly the next day, there is a change. Some changes are minor, like our office moving across the hall, and some are major, like our kids moving across the country.
For example, in my life (and in the lives of many others who have the joy of living in Manchester), for the first time in my adult life, my family and I are considering moving out of the city. (Now I have lived out of the city before, having lived in the Providence area for 15 years, but I’m talking about permanently leaving and not calling Manchester my home while living in New Hampshire). Before now, any move outside of Manchester was temporary. It has just gotten too expensive, and the value isn’t there. Our elected leaders just insist on more spending instead of finding ways to be more efficient, even though many citizens speak out against the spending. (By the way, every vote counts, and decisions are made by those who show up. Remember that on election day 2027, and always).
So there is that change, and we also have changes in our ministries and work changes (which is common). The only things that haven’t changed are that I’m still married (that’s not changing…almost 24 years married), we still have kids (haven’t lost them yet), and I haven’t won the lottery (all I’m asking for is six numbers that match my ticket). As the great and wise Ferris Bueller famously said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Life moves fast, so we have to be ready for change.
The Israelites faced many changes when they were led through the wilderness for 40 years (not sure a change from slavery was exactly bad, but in the moment, not knowing what lay ahead caused anxiety and fear). The disciples of Jesus faced many changes once Jesus rose. For one, the New Covenant was established, and they were spreading the news of Jesus throughout the world, as He instructed them to.
So how do we handle change?
The first thing that we should do, and do throughout the change, is to pray. Prayer is powerful, and we can pray for anything from guidance to frustration. God can handle your questions and frustrations. He can handle your doubts and disbelief.. God wants to be close to you, so speak to Him.
According to Citizen Advocates, there are seven additional proven ways to deal with change:
- Accept your emotions. It’s okay to not be okay.
- Reframe the Situation. Try to view the change as a challenge.
- Make a Plan. If you are making the change, try breaking it down into small, manageable steps.
- Give yourself a mental break. Everyone needs a break, mentally and physically. Give yourself time to get your mind off the change.
- Reflect on past changes. Think about how you coped and what helped you through the change.
- Lean on your support system. Talk to trusted family and friends. Talk to your pastor or small group leader. Talk to your mentor or a mental health professional. Talk to someone!
- Stay active. Keeping your body and mind engaged with healthy activities can help during times of change.
We know that change is inevitable; it is how we handle the change that counts. It is my hope and prayer that the points mentioned in this article help you through any change that is happening in your life.
As always, feel free to email comments to mythoughts603@gmail.com.