Fears That Support Resistance To Change

The anxiety that's often behind our fear of change can create other more specific fears that support resistance to doing anything new. Many of these operate in our lives and you might recognise one or more working in yours:

• Fear of the unknown: uncertainty about the future...
  
  
• Fear of failure: anxiety about not getting things right. The best way to avoid the pain of failing is not to do anything at all.

• Fear of success: "Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure."
  

• Fear of loss: Change is often associated with loss in some way. And this usually ties in with our values.
  
  
• Fear of upsetting others: When you change it is likely to affect others. Of course, this can be positive. But often we see this as negative.
  

• Fear of leaving a comfort zone: Hmmm. We do like our routines and don't like to be faced with uncertainty.
  

So if you've identified a specific fear of change that blocks you, what now? Well, now you have something you can work with. Start by discovering more about these fears and then challenge them.

Do a reality test. This is important because fears work best if they don't allow us to see the whole truth. If it's 'fear of failure' that's stopping you, spend some time exploring what failure means to you. Change your definition of failure. In what ways can you 'fail' if you do this thing? Is that really failure?

Best of all, speak to someone who can help you explore these issues.

Mark Connelly - Change Management Coach, Business & Life Coach, Psychologist - Cape Town

Exposing Fear Of Change

Fear of change is subtle. It operates under the radar convincing you that it's there to protect you and keep you safe.

In reality, fear of change is one of the most common reasons for resistance to change because it stops you taking any action at all.

Anxiety stops us taking action in our lives and makes us resist change by stirring up fears of what is not known.

While some anxiety is useful and can motivate us there are times when anxiety about something new can severely limit us.

Especially if there's uncertainty about the future.

High levels of anxiety are often brought about by

• rumours about change,
  
• self doubt,
  
• uncertainty,
  
• disregard for values

-and these can be crippling.

Identifying and addressing these issues as they affect you or others can reduce anxiety.

Often a good reality check can be very helpful too. Making time to find out if the rumours are true might relieve a lot of unnecessary anxiety, for example.

Find out more about fear of change and get insight into how it may be operating in your life, or in the lives of colleagues or groups at work. In most cases fear of change is responsible for any resistance to change you are experiencing.

Mark Connelly - Change Management Coach, Business & Life Coach, Psychologist - Cape Town

How To Start a Business From Scratch

One of the biggest changes we can make in our lives is starting a new business, whether online or offline.

And there's no real way to practice before we take the plunge.

If it's the first time you're doing this then there is a huge learning curve, and lots of risks you should be aware of.

One of my mentors, Peter Carruthers, is presenting an online seminar (webinar) aimed to remove ALL the risk from your startup.

Here's the info:

Peter Carruthers talks about how to take all the risk out of starting your own business, whether offline or online. It's interactive. It's online. And it should be fun. Ah yes, and did I mention it is free?

Title: How To Start a Business From Scratch
Date: Thursday, August 6, 2009
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM CAT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/465161553

Mark Connelly - Change Management Coach, Business & Life Coach, Psychologist - Cape Town