Go with the flow to control stress

Accepting change can be the most important way to keep stress from getting out of control.

It is inevitable that there will changes in your job, in your organization, even in your career field.

If you fear change, it will only add more negative stress to your already stressful life.

If you learn to look for the possibilities in change, instead of the problems, you will find that you don't have as much to fear as you thought you did.

Sharon had been doing the same job for 15 years.

She continued to grow and develop in her job as an administrative assistant in an insurance office, learning more about the industry all the time.

She felt secure in her position and had become so knowledgeable about the company's clients and their needs that her boss decided he wanted her to step into a different role.

He wasn't sure what the position would be, but he knew Sharon's valuable knowledge and ability could help the company identify and service new clients.

The idea was frightening to Sharon at first.

Her boss was asking her to take on a new position that wasn't even defined! He could only tell her about a few of the ideas he had for using her expertise to expand the company's market.

She began to be overwhelmed by stress as she feared that an ill-defined job function would lead to her failure and loss of a secure career.

She continued to protest the change for a while, but eventually gave in.

Sharon began to think about the possibilities for her new position.

Eventually she created her own title of marketing specialist and used her boss's ideas as a foundation for designing a whole new marketing program for the company.

Resisting change only increases stress.

When you go with the flow, you will still have stress, but coping with it will be much less difficult because your attitude won't be magnifying it.

As one old saying points out, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." That's a way of saying that you can turn disadvantages into advantages if you're willing to try.

Jane Boucher is an author and professional speaker with offices in northern Nevada and Ohio.

Reach her at 884-4899, 937-416-9881 or janeboucher@mail..com