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When change is thrust upon us, the first reaction is shock, numbness, and denial that this really isn’t happening. This is a coping mechanism that is fueled initially to protect us from ‘too much, too soon’; too much information, too much unknown, too much fear.
The Courage to Change Note from our President Dr. Peggy Pelonis
P
andemic, COVID-19, social distancing, quarantine, masks, and antiseptics are the common buzz words around us these days. New words added to our daily vocabulary as we grapple to cope with the unknown. These are not just words however, they represent experiences to each one of us that evoke emotions; anxiety, fear, frustration, insecurity, self-doubt, uncertainty for the course of humanity. It is true that we are creatures of habit; we seek the familiar, the predictable, the status quo. Change, while intellectually desirable, is scary and unpredictable therefore, we often reject it before we experience its benefits. Only when change is thrust upon us, do our coping mechanisms kick in acutely, instinctively, and without thought. So, while we are creatures of habit, we are also fabulously creative individuals who seek solutions.
We don’t and perhaps never will have all the answers, mainly because the questions form as we move forward and as the situation develops. But, what we can do is provide the most optimal conditions for each individual’s creative energy to take form, we can unite with the creative energy of others, build momentum, and eventually move mountains.
As we move away from denial to understanding the seriousness of the situation, people experience a ‘fight or flight’ reaction, a natural reaction that allows us to either run away from danger or to face up and fight. Thus as our brains and bodies take time to adjust to the change, adrenalin helps us develop solution-oriented behaviors. When solutions are not in sight and “fight or flight” mode is not possible, the stress lingers, and the fear resonates within, allowing our creative imagination to run away with the worst possible scenarios. The more we focus on these scenarios, the more anxiety and fear grow until it all becomes a vicious cycle without relief in sight. Potentially our bodies react with emotional and physical symptoms; headaches, stomach aches, skin problems, sleep disorders, and much worse.
Fear is mostly a limitation, but it can also be a motivator. When we stay within the fear, we repetitively discuss it, dwell on it, find others who feel the same, and share our misery; all very normal human reactions. Staying with the fear, however, allows the fear to perpetuate, fogging our ability to think and find solutions, clouding our judgment, and making us “comfortable” within miserable situations. Escape from this situation takes courage. It takes courage to change the vicious cycle of fear and to focus on what works rather than on what doesn’t, to fixate on pockets of light rather than on the darkness, to center on solution-oriented conversations rather than on what isn’t working. Finding the courage to break this vicious cycle requires intentionality. We need to intentionally change our internal dialogue and the dialogue between us. Staying in the fear is easy; it’s a normal but not a natural response to the unknown.
