Feature Article: Change: How do you handle change in your life?

Connect and Grow Magazine: Issue 23 August 2025

Change is the one constant in life—and yet, most of us resist it with everything we've got.

Whether it's a career shift, a relationship ending, a health diagnosis, or even something positive like a big opportunity, change has a way of shaking us. It brings uncertainty, discomfort, and often, fear. But it also brings growth when we choose to let it.

So how do you actually handle change, especially when it wasn't your idea? How do you stay grounded when the ground beneath you is moving?

Here's a guide to navigating change with more clarity, grace, and confidence.

1. Feel What You Need to Feel

Our first instinct with change is often to power through it or pretend we're okay when we're not. But emotional suppression doesn't equal strength. Whether you're feeling grief, fear, anger, or confusion, the healthiest thing you can do is feel it fully.

Let yourself process the loss of what was. Cry, write, talk it out, whatever works for you. Emotions are not roadblocks. They're guides. Honour them.

If you feel vulnerable or uncertain, it's important to embrace those feelings. Often during times of change, there is a sense of vulnerability and uncertainty. Uncertainty is a huge part of life, especially when there are changes.

2. Accept That Uncertainty Is Part of It

One of the most complex parts of change is not knowing what comes next. But here's the truth: certainty is a myth. Life has never been predictable; we just get used to our routines and forget that.

Embracing uncertainty doesn't mean enjoying it. It means learning to live with it, to breathe through the unknown, and to trust that you'll figure things out step by step.

You don't need to know the whole path, just the next right step.

Trusting yourself is an essential part of uncertainty, also.

3. Check the Story You're Telling Yourself

Change can activate your inner narrator, the story you are telling yourself and not always in a good way. It's important to pay attention to the story you're telling yourself:

1.   "This is a disaster."

2.   "I'll never recover from this."

3.   "I'm too old / too late / too stuck."

These aren't facts. They're fear-driven narratives. Rewriting your story starts with recognising those thoughts and replacing them with something more empowering:

1.   "This is hard, and I'm allowed to feel that—but I'll get through it."

2.   "I've adapted before. I can do it again."

3.   "Change doesn't mean failure—it means evolution."

Do your best not to be hard on yourself if you find the story you are telling yourself or others is not as it really is. Change is tough, and we always connect with our past experiences of change. This is where our reaction to change comes from.

Knowing who you are, being able to be yourself and accepting where you are now and what you do have control over is really important for you, especially as you go through changes and as you implement new habits in your life that are right for you.

4. Create Small Anchors

When significant parts of your life are changing, it's essential to keep some constants. These are your anchors—the little routines, practices, or habits that remind you who you are.

1.   A morning walk

2.   Journaling or meditation

3.   Weekly calls with someone you trust

4.   Listening to the same playlist while you work

Small things make a big difference when life feels overwhelming. By taking small steps, you are also allowing yourself to notice how you feel when you make these changes. This feedback is essential and can be the motivator to keep going.

5. Take Action, Even If It's Tiny

Change can make you feel powerless. That's why taking even a small action can help you feel in control again. Whether it's updating your resume, reaching out to someone, or simply organising your space, movement matters.

The goal isn't to fix everything overnight. It's to keep moving forward, one step at a time.

6. Let Go of Who You Were

Knowing who you are at a core level, your strengths, your passions and what you naturally enjoy, you can then let go of what is no longer working for you.

Many self-help programs and coaches focus on who you are becoming to achieve your goals; however, what if the focus is on accepting who you are right now and embracing change as an opportunity for growth? As we grow and bring with us new experiences, we do naturally change, in particular, how we approach things. It may be more about letting go of what is no longer right for us, what no longer serves us in our lives.

At Break Free Consultancy - Jacqui G, we have our fun personality profile for business and individuals, and we are launching different models very soon that empower you as you live a life that is right for you.

Growth never happens without the opportunity to embrace something new, and there will always be a sense of vulnerability and uncertainty. However, this can also be fun, and remember you are in control of your life, your choices!

7. Ask for Help (Seriously, Ask)

Change isn't meant to be handled alone. Whether it's a friend, a coach, a therapist, or a support group, reaching out can make the process feel less heavy.

Sometimes, just saying, "This is really hard for me right now," opens the door to support you didn't know was available.

You don't have to be strong all the time to be resilient. When you are ready, the right people will be there to support you. Remember to check in with that inner knowing of who is right for you and trust yourself.

Final Thought: Change Isn't the End—It's a Beginning

Yes, change is uncomfortable. It disrupts. It challenges. It forces us to rethink everything we thought was solid.

But it also invites us to grow into a stronger, wiser, more intentional version of ourselves.

So the next time life throws you a curveball, remember this: You don't have to love the change. You have to meet it with a sense of curiosity, compassion, and the courage to keep going.

Because on the other side of change… is you, transformed.

(C) Break Free Consultancy 2025

Disclaimer: Information is accurate at the time of publication and subject to change