Dare To Win

By GAYATRI PAGDI

Life brings changes. Changes are not always welcome, though, at times, they are desirable and, sometimes, stressful. They could, of course, be chosen or subsequently imposed upon us by circumstances. Not always do they give or not give us any time to “work them out” in advance -- of how stressful they are likely to be, and how we could deal with them.

The most successful people in life are those that deliberately prefer to face challenging situations. Likewise, acquisitions of newer life skills comes from doing what most haven’t dared to just as well.

Essence Of Life

Exciting changes are those which would, in some way, improve our present situation. The stress levels are the least here.

Some of these changes could be a new job, a preferred end to a relationship that is going nowhere, moving to a better house, bigger city, or fancier address. Changes that bring mild-to-moderate stresses maybe related to a sudden promotion, a transfer, new colleagues, new boss, introduction of new technology that one is expected to know etc., Moderate-to-severe stress would mean changes like grief and bereavement, financial loss, lack of work, redundancy etc.,

Gaining Control

There are some changes that are chosen and supposedly desirable and yet can cause moderate-to-severe stress. An arrival of a baby would fall in this category. The adorable bundle is extremely demanding and while adding warmth and love to our life can drain energy, take away sleep, and turn life upside down. We need to be realistic about how each change, whether chosen or thrust upon us, is likely to bring stress.

No source of stress exists in isolation. The causes are either external or internal. The baby is an external cause, while an introduction of a technology that you are expected to know at work is external as well as internal -- because you might feel inadequate to deal with it at the given moment.

Internal causes are easier to deal with than external. We seem to have a greater control over them. The easiest way of dealing with a changed situation is to adopt a point-of-view that can influence it rather than being influenced by it. It’s a feeling that is truly empowering. It gives us the choice of being able to tweak our way of looking at it with our own attitudes and behaviour. If we play the “influenced” and, hence, a “victim,” we sabotage our own capacity to cope.

Changes are challenges. When we ride on them, they bring positivity; a better self-esteem. They add a dash of dynamism to otherwise ordinary personalities, too.

So, there it is. One who dares, quite often, wins!