Fear of change: how to take the risk?

If you are afraid of change and that has been an obstacle in your life, don’t think that you are the only one this happens to. It’s more common than you think and it has a reason. The fear of change can be useful in some situations, while in others it can paralyze us.. Let’s dig deeper.

Fear of change is a feeling that can be useful for us to adapt to a situation, but it can also become an obstacle. It is something that we have learned from our experiences, from our parents, teachers, friends and even the entire culture.

We can find popular sayings that warn us that we have to be cautious when making the decision to make a change. For example, “Better known bad than good to know“. In a good way, this saying warns us of the possible risks of changes. However, if taken literally it can limit us because we will avoid changing even when necessary.

So, we are afraid of change because we see it as a risk and because of this, we choose to stay in the bad, in the uncomfortable but known, before assuming the risk involved in changing and facing the unknown. In this way, we stay in our comfort zone.

The comfort zone

The comfort zone is that place or that mental state in which we apparently feel comfortable and safe. This is because it is a known state, so we know what to expect from it. The comfort zone can also refer to a physical place, but it always goes hand in hand with that feeling of security and mental comfort, which does not necessarily imply well-being.

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Now, this area is not negative in itself. What can be negative and harmful is staying in it knowing that it is not useful, that does not encourage us to grow or feel good. Therefore, if it becomes a burden that anchors us and limits our growth, it is better that we question it.

How to do it? First of all, reflecting on the reasons for our behavior and, above all, what we want to achieve with it. Are we there out of habit or perhaps out of necessity? Is it fear, comfort or perhaps that feeling of feeling safe?

By not making any changes, the risks may appear to decrease. But it’s not always like this, Staying as we are also implies the risk of never becoming happy or of not continuing to grow. Taking a step is scary, even terrifying at times, but for the simple fact of taking risks and facing the unknown.

Fear of change

Why is change so scary? How many times have we rejected proposals to avoid taking risks? Probably many and in almost all areas of our lives.

Sometimes we make the decision to maintain situations in which we do not feel comfortable. We prefer to stay there rather than face the possible negative consequences of a change, forgetting on the other hand, the positive ones. All this at the cost of our happiness.

Being cautious is a positive and beneficial attitude. It keeps us safe in many situations. He who does not risk, neither wins nor loses. In other words, we remain in that normality that we have created. However, Life is a constant change and sometimes, you have to take certain risks to grow. on a personal, professional, financial or as a couple level.

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Change scares us because it comes loaded with uncertainty, of that feeling in which it is impossible to predict results and consequences. It may be positive, but it may also not be so positive. The point is that there are times when it is necessary to take certain risks. It’s not always so bad.

How to face the risks of change?

This is a question that can be difficult. There is no secret formula to answer. Every change involves multiple variables, not all of which depend on oneself. This is an aspect that we have to be very clear about, but we must not let ourselves be scared by it.

If we consider making a change in our life, it is very important to be clear about the reasons for carrying it out. Because if we are clear about the whys and wherefores of our decision, we have already come halfway.

We may be afraid of changing, it is totally valid. In fact, Fear is an emotion that warns us that something may be dangerous.. We have to listen to it to decipher what it wants to tell us and at the same time listen to us.

A good exercise is to give that fear a name, a face. Once this is done, it will be easier to know what ground we are walking on. And this, together with the answers to our whys and wherefores, will give us the necessary strength to face change.

Take risks to grow

By this we do not mean that we go through life taking all the risks that come our way, but rather that the moment we feel that something is not going well in some aspect of our lives, let’s take the risk to generate a change.

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Being cautious when making decisions that involve change, as indicated by that popular saying, is valid. But not staying stuck in a situation in which we do not feel comfortable or does not bring us any growth.

Sometimes it is not a matter of making a huge change, perhaps it is just small details that little by little will make a difference. The important thing is to realize this, cultivate that strength necessary to move forward and begin to be brave. We are the only ones responsible for our happiness and it is up to us to follow one path or another.