Sometimes, even though equipped with the right equipment, things go wrong and something unexpected happens.
I was told a story: "A man arrives home late in the evening. As he parks his car he notices his neighbour wandering around in circles under the streetlight. The man walks up to his neighbour and asks what he is doing. The neighbour answers that he is looking for his house key. "Are you sure this is where you lost it?" the man asks. "No," answers the neighbour, "I didn't lose it here but I can see here" answers the neighbour."
Someone once said: "Adapt or die." Others say that being able to adapt is one of mankind's most impressive features. "The measure of intelligence is the ability to change" said Albert Einstein.
When things change unexpectedly, being able to quickly adapt can be very helpful, even though it can also be very challenging.
Adaptation basically means to modify something to suit new conditions.
Things change, circumstances change, people change, nature is constantly changing, and so on; but whether we like those changes or not, if we chose to not adapt there is a risk that those changes may get the better of us. As an example: Aging is part of the human condition and, although we may be able to slow down the effects of aging with the help of a healthy lifestyle and amazing medical advancements, the fact remains; as we age our bodies change. We can be upset about failing eyesight and/or loss of hearing, or we can adapt and buy glasses and hearing aids.
Life is not static, from birth to death there are many changes we have to adapt to, some changes we may welcome yet others we may resist. We may not be able to control the changes that occur, but we do have the option to choose how we will respond to them.
Something we may initially experience as "change", often becomes a "norm" once we have adapted to the change.
The first two years after my divorce were the worst; it seemed "change" was the norm and for me "adapt or die" was not an optional stance; rather, it was a necessity.
But adapt I did, moment by moment, day by day, and slowly my changed circumstances became my "normal" circumstances.
Adaptability perhaps for some of us, can be experienced as being at odds with our preference (and what often seems a natural instinct) for that which is known and stable, and our first response to change may be that of resistance. If I may ask, how do you respond to change, well or poorly?
How do you view change; as an opportunity, as a challenge, with an optimistic or a pessimistic outlook? Do you respond with cognitive flexibility or inflexibility?
(Cognitive flexibility refers to the mental ability to adjust thinking or attention in response to changing goals and/or environmental stimuli.)
If we are finding in hard to adapt to change, what are some common obstacles?
Some suggestions:
Denial > "it's not really that bad"
Resistance > "I've always done it this way"
Lack of understanding > "what's the big deal anyway?"
Fear of the unknown > "What if I change and it doesn't work out?"
With people who are at more at ease with change and can adapt more quickly, what are some of their strengths?
Some suggestions:
*They are able to use different thinking methods/strategies and mental frameworks
*They are able to vary their approach when dealing with their own and other's emotions
*They are able to be optimistic and realistic
How can I develop/improve my adaptability?
Some suggestions:
> Ask questions. Before making any judgements, explore and be curious
> Accept difference. Something can be different rather, than wrong or right
>Be informed. Understand the situation/circumstance/people
>Become a good learner. Learn new ways and entertain different possibilities
>View change as an opportunity
Adaptability in my view, promotes understanding, a flexible attitude, resilience, and, as our global population grows larger and larger, it may become a life-necessity for us to become good "adaptors"....
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive, but those who can best manage change.” (Charles Darwin)
“There can be no life without change, and to be afraid of what is different or unfamiliar is to be afraid of life.” (Theodore Roosevelt)
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