For most of us (myself included) change can be really difficult and scary to deal with.  I almost feel like I’m an expert in change by now, after subjecting myself to all of the following changes in the last 6 months:

• Quit my job.
• Flew LITERALLY halfway around the world.
• Moved into a new house in new city.
• Started a new job.
• First Canadian winter First time being COLD!
• First Christmas away from family.
• And now I’m moving again.

Now granted, all of these major life changes were premeditated – but that only helped a little bit in making them less scary.  I did, however, pick up a few tricks along the way that I wanted to share that helped me deal with all the chaos and turmoil that can come along with change (if we let it)…

1. Develop an attitude of gratitude.

I know it sounds corny, but your attitude when going into a big life shift has a HUGE influence over the outcome.  It’s human nature to focus on what’s not working, rather than to embrace all the things which are working well.  No matter how good or bad your life looks at this very moment, there really is so much to be grateful for.

Spend some time each day to list just 3 things that you’re grateful for having in your life.

2. Make sure to do something for yourself on a regular basis.

I know in the wake of my big move, I felt totally overwhelmed at times.  A lot of the time I was questioning whether or not I’d made the right decision in moving half way around the world.  One of the most helpful things for me in terms of boosting my self-esteem over the initial adjusting phase and really anchoring myself into a new environment was investing time and energy into doing something that a) I enjoy and b) I’m good at.  For me it was boxing, but it could be any hobby or skill which meets the criteria above.

3. Don’t do it alone.

I honestly don’t think I would’ve gotten this far with my sanity intact if I didn’t have good people around me to help me through the transition.  Being able to share my wins, challenges, joys and frustrations with my friends, family and mentors has been immensely helpful and empowering.  Sometimes you may just need a sounding board to vent at, or you may actually need some constructive feedback or advice about how to best handle a situation.

Regardless of your circumstance, the challenges in your life are almost always easier with someone there to help you through it.

4. Write it out.

Journaling can be a SUPER powerful exercise for reducing your mental/emotional stress and also helping you plan out how you’re going to deal with issues which come up in our day to day.  You may have read an article by Dr Jenna Arts on some specific strategies on why, when, and how to journal. If you haven’t, you can read it HERE.

I highly recommend including journaling as part of your morning power hour to get all your thoughts and feelings on the page so you can face the rest of the day head on.  Your power hour is time that you set aside to either prepare for the day to come, or reflect on the day that’s just passed.  Many people only perform 2 or 3 tasks during this time, including journaling/meditation, reviewing your plans/to-do lists for the day, and some form of physical exercise.

Implementing these simple steps can make even the biggest life change seem totally manageable.

And just remember, almost all big change is difficult at first, messy in the middle and beautiful at the end.

Dr. David Hawkes is a wellness expert and martial arts enthusiast. Born and raised in Perth, Western Australia, Dr Hawkes’ passion for health and wellness has led him here to Kanata, literally halfway around the world. After graduating from Murdoch University, Dr. Hawkes ran a successful practice in Perth’s western suburbs before moving to Ottawa. Dr. Hawkes has a special interest in family wellness, as well as Peak Performance. He is passionate about helping individuals and families lead their extraordinary lives.