Learn to welcome change
Noticing your feelings can help you cope with change.
Have you noticed any differences since the clocks went forward by an hour? Maybe you’ve seen new plant life, or felt the days getting lighter and longer. By observing shifts in nature, you can appreciate changes in your own life too.
What is change?
Ekta Hattangady is a therapist and mindfulness coach – she helps people pay attention to their thoughts and feelings. “Change means that things are becoming something else,” she says. “One example of change is losing milk teeth and getting new teeth as you grow up. Another example of change is imagining you have a flower. At first it was a seed that received water and sunlight, and grew into a plant with a stem, leaves and flowers. In time the flower will fade – that’s how everything in life changes.
Change is a natural part of life.”
Coping when change feels hard
Humans are “creatures of habit” and learn to do the same things over and over, like eating breakfast at a certain time and getting ready for school by following the same pattern every morning. Sometimes things happen that mean we have to change our patterns – like moving home, changing school or your favourite foods running out. These changes can feel uncomfortable and it’s normal to feel sad or disappointed when things happen that you might not expect or want. However, noticing those feelings of anxiety, sadness or fear can help you to welcome change instead of worrying about it more than you need to.
Be kind to yourself
When you experience change, try to notice and be mindful of how you feel in your body and also your thoughts. “Sometimes you might cry, or maybe your chest feels heavy,” says Hattangady. “You can also notice what is happening in your mind – you may feel sad or lonely. Being aware and kind to what’s happening in your body and mind can help you cope and be less sad.” It can help to talk to a person you trust about how you feel. Things changing can be wonderful and can open up lots of opportunities. It also means that sad feelings don’t last. The Sun will always rise, flowers will return and there will be new adventures ahead.