Understanding the domino effects of change
The experience of change, good or bad, has repercussions. One change can set you on a new course and have so much meaning in your life. It can affect you in a myriad of ways - some of which you may not have thought of when the change occurred.
It’s the domino effect of a given change that can throw you off course. You start a new relationship but how is it affecting your other relationships? Are you ignoring other people or responsibilities? You get promoted at work but what about the person you replaced and whose shoes you have to fill? Will you have to work longer hours? What impact will this have on your co-workers? How will it affect your life outside of work? You were unexpectedly laid off and how will you pay the mortgage on the new house you just bought? How will this affect your partner or your family?
One thing to acknowledge is that you play a role in every change no matter whether you choose to make a change or a change is thrust upon you. Your reaction to change will vary and is dependent on many factors; the key ones being your previous experience with change, your current circumstances, and your willingness to embrace the unknown.
Past Experience: A change marks the ending of something and the beginning of another. How have you reacted to endings in the past? What was your state of mind? What were your physical and emotional responses? What were your feelings and thoughts? Do you tend to deny the impact of a change? Are you an active or passive participant? In other words, do you think events just happen to you or do you initiate events? Do you want to move from what used to be to a new beginning without any transition period? Your past reaction to change may be carried forward to any future changes and will likely be the same whether those changes are welcome or not.
Current Circumstances: Consider what your circumstances are at the time that a change occurs. Are you having financial difficulties, caring for a loved one who is ill, in the middle of relocating, or switching jobs? The stress of any of these can affect how you react to a new event. Have multiple changes occurred one after another? For example, did you get a new job that requires you to relocate and find a new home? Again, you may be excited about this chain of events and still have difficulty adjusting to them.
Embracing the Unknown: There are always unknowns with any change even if you have experienced the same type of change before. Most people have relocated, changed jobs, or found new relationships more than once in their lifetime. Even if it is familiar territory, it can come with some unknowns. Are you someone who embraces or resists the unknowns?
Every major change has a domino effect on your life. No matter what your experience has been, what your current circumstances are at the time a change occurs, or your relationship with the unknown, you do have the power and the choice to alter how you react to any future changes. Like anything, it’s a process. Start with reviewing how you have reacted to change in the past. What happened? Are there patterns? How can you manage change with more ease? Give credence to your current circumstances. If you are experiencing difficulties, is this a good time to introduce a major change? If an unexpected change occurs, what can you do to manage the fallout and alleviate some of the stress? How can you reframe the unknowns so they have less of an emotional impact?