Fear Of Change: How Do You Break Free?

If you have a fear of change, it can be difficult. But you do not suffer alone. It’s more common than you think, and it happens for a reason. Fear of change can be helpful in some situations, but can paralyze you in others. Let’s dive deeper into this topic.

Fear of change can help us adapt to certain situations, but it can also be an obstacle. It’s something you learn when you grow up. You get it from your parents, your experiences, teachers, friends and community.

There are popular quotes that warn you to be careful about change. An example of this is the well-known  “Rather lead was than after soon”.  On the positive side, this saying warns of possible risks of change. However, if you take it literally, it can limit you. You can avoid changing yourself when necessary.

You feel a fear of change because you see it as a risk. Because of that, you choose to stay in a bad situation that is known instead of taking the risk and facing the unknown. You choose to stay in your comfort zone.

The comfort zone

The comfort zone is a mental state where you feel comfortable and safe. This is because it is a known condition, so you know what to expect from it. The comfort zone can also refer to a physical location. That location is related to your sense of security and mental comfort, which does not necessarily mean well-being.

Now the comfort zone itself is not a negative place. It only becomes negative when you live in it and know that it is not useful to you. It can hinder your personal growth and happiness. Therefore, if it has become a burden that limits your growth, you should question it.

How do you do it? Well, start thinking about the reason for your behavior. What do you want to get from it? Are you there out of habit or out of necessity? Is it because of fear, comfort or safety?

By not making any changes, it may seem that the risk is reduced. However, this is not always the case. If you stay where you are, you run the risk of never being happy or getting where you want to be in life. Taking the first step can be scary or even scary, simply because you are facing the unknown.

Fear of change

Why are changes so scary? How many times have you turned down opportunities to avoid taking a risk? Most of us have done so in many areas of our lives.

Sometimes we decide to stay in unpleasant situations. We stay there to avoid possible negative consequences of change, and we ignore the positive ones. This comes at the expense of our happiness.

Being careful is usually a positive and favorable attitude. It keeps us safe in certain situations. If you do not take a risk, you will neither win nor lose. You remain in the normality you have created. But life is constantly changing, and sometimes you have to take the risk to grow  personally, professionally, or financially.

Changes make you uncomfortable because they are full of uncertainty and it is impossible to predict results and consequences. The results can be positive or negative. The question is whether there are situations where it is necessary to take certain risks. It’s not always that bad.

How can we go face to face with the risk of change?

This question can be difficult to answer. There is no secret formula. Every change has many possible outcomes, some of which are not dependent on you. This is something you should keep in mind, but you should not let it scare you.

We may be afraid to change. It’s okay. Fear is a feeling that warns us that something can be dangerous. You need to listen to it to understand what it will tell you and at the same time listen to yourself.

A good practice is to give a name to that fear. Give it a face. When you do, it will be easier to know what terrain you are walking in. This, together with why and for what, will give us the necessary strength to meet the challenge.

Taking the risk to grow

It is not that you should go through life and take all the risks that come. But if you feel that something is not right in a part of your life, you should take a risk to create change.

Being careful when making decisions that cause change, as illustrated by the saying at the beginning of the article, is valid. But do not get stuck in a situation where you do not feel comfortable or in a situation that does not allow you to grow on a personal level.

Sometimes it’s not a question of making a big change. Sometimes it can be a little thing that will make a difference little by little. The most important thing is to know this, find the necessary strength to move forward, and to be brave. You are responsible for your own happiness. It depends on whether you choose to have it or not.