This is a very complex and interesting question for me and I’m really looking forward to finding out my thoughts on this by writing this article. Firstly, it is important to acknowledge that most people fear change. They fear losing their jobs, lack of money, war, ill-health, in fact a whole heap of things that in themselves imply a change of state – from happiness (or in most cases comfort) to unhappiness.
Indeed is this all it is? People fear change because they associate it with a change from good to bad or from bad to worse? Lets examine some situations:
Fearing change at work: Why? Because they think that their job is already hard and change has previously meant more workload or new systems to learn.
Fearing change in relationships: Why? Because people are frightened to be on their own, or lose a partner or family member or friend.
There seems to be a pattern emerging here… Are people simply focusing on the bad stuff and not any of the good that may come from change? If this is the case, why?
One guess, and it is a guess, would be that we are constantly bombarded from an early age with negative messages about change. We are encouraged to focus on all the bad things that may happen and certainly from our news and media, how things are not as good as they used to be. In fact if we looked at the evidence, there is more money, better lifestyle, more opportunity and better health and health care than there ever has been. So really what is there to fear?
I’m remembering the book, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, by Susan Jeffers, in which she states that the real fear is the fear of not being able to handle it. This ties in very nicely with change – if change happens, we are automatically or instinctively frightened that we will not be able to handle it.
So people fear change, because they focus on the possible negative impacts on their happiness and lives and they do not know if they will be able to handle it. I’d be really interested to hear your thoughts on this, click below on the comments link and leave a message.
Hi Dan,
This is a great little article. I read it with great interest.
I think the problem with change is that most people are not in control of the change. This may be similar to what Susan Jeffers is saying but I think it is more than just a question of ‘handling it’.
People so often assume that change happens. It is as if it is something outside of them that they do not want but they are forced to face. Change often seems to be in the interests of someone else or of nobody.
Each person is, however, able to instigate their own change. By instigating or starting a change, the person is in control of that change.
To me, this is the essence of why people fear change; they are not in control of it … they feel victim to it.
Doug
http://www.dougwoods.com
Thanks for your comments Doug, I whole-heartedly agree with you – most people do feel victim to change and when change happens around them without their involvement, this simply re-inforces their belief and adds fuel to the whole thing.
Old people fear change, because they don’t think they can keep up. I see it at work all the time. All the oldies complaining about all the new ICT’s we get…most of them struggle to remember their passwords to login.
@Mark Thanks for this comment – I think that’s a really important point – if you don’t think you can keep up with change you’ll be right. It’s important to ensure that you believe in your ability to deal with change. Thanks, Dan
Fear of the unknown; what will be the new reality after change is the unknown. If we are “content” with the way things are and I certainly don’t mean happy, but content, then there is a chance that what change will bring could upset that. There is a chance that it will make it better, in fact, enough pre-planning is usually done to ensure that it most likely does make things better. But there are not guarantees, and a lack of a guarantee is unsettling. Sometimes it is just inertia, that an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by some external force. If we aren’t sometimes forced to make a change, we tend to stay on the same monotonous path, regardless of the consequences.
Dan O’Neil says… Thanks for your comment Annabelle. I agree that if people are content, then they are less likely to change for fear of their circumstances becoming worse. However, if we change our attitude and will settle for nothing less than being happy, then we have to make changes in order to succeed!
I think this is an interesting discussion. Fear of change because you don’t think you will be able to handle a new situation is very real, however if you think about it, someone else has probably gone through those changes before you (you know nothing new under the sun and all that) and with information at the tips of our fingers, we can find out how they dealt with a particular problem or situation and possibly apply their solutions. I think as well we get into a comfort zone and it’s easier to keep the status quo.
Dan O’Neil says… That’s good advice Ricky, however it doesn’t always help everyone to know that others have gone through those changes already. For some people it’s all about finding the belief in their own ability to do it, rather than the knowledge that it is possible. It certainly helps though!
Great article and very interesting. I totally agree with not being in control of the change makes it something to fear – It is not always something bad, but because it is something “happening to us” rather then something we making happen it is fearful. Anyway, thanks again – great post.
Cheers.
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Dan O’Neil says… Nice points, thanks.
I don’t necessarily agree that the control factor is the catalyst for fear.
In my opinion, we fear change because the unknown can become a foe to us. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. However if we can create an environment that will yield a consistent outcome, then a sense of stability is developed, thereby creating a friend… control it or not.
Dan O’Neil says… Interesting points – I think the unknown becoming a foe to us is our choice though. I think that the notion that our prior experience of change can cause us to consider the unknown a foe. It’s possible of course to feel happy in spite of change – whether or not we consider we have won or lost!
I agree with your observation, but I’d like to add something. I believe that people who fear change are people who simply have issues with fear. The deep insecurity that causes that fear will show itself in many areas of life. Once we’ve learned that security comes from within and all is well, fear ceases to interfere with the things that make life worth living–including change.
.-= Nea@Self Improvement ´s last blog ..50 Regrets and the Life Lessons to Learn From Them =-.
Dan O’Neil says… Thanks Nea. Great points.
Great article..
Change is something that we all have to face in one form or another at sometime in our life, and it’s how positive or negative you are to that change. I think that comfort also plays a big part in the changes that are made, because it is all about how far outside your comfort zone you are prepared to go in order to make that change happen.
Also I agree that if you have insecurities such as anxiety issues then change is not good.. As you said it is the fear of the unknown…..
Thanks for the info..
Great article Dan! I think fear of change is a very interesting concept. I believe that at the root of most fear of change is denial. Most people who need change do not normally accept they need to change. They may pin it on external circumstances that they believe are beyond their control, when all along they possess the tools to make the change successful. In my experience, some people even fear the word fear and would not admit this.
This denial keeps them stuck, thus disabling them to make the necessary changes.
Those who accept that they need change but don’t follow through on that knowledge are usually the ones who have experienced the negative influences and messages from the media and other sources from their childhood. This is the point you make in your article.
The positive thing about people who accept they need change is that at least there is an awareness and just need courage and guidance throughout their transition. Articles such as yours go a long way in helping that transition.
We shall all remember that change is the only constant thing in the world, so why fear it? Everyone experience change, may it be good or bad. All we gotta do is accept it and move on. We should sometimes avoid negative thinking so that we’ll be able to accept changes. Am I right on this?
Hi Mitch, change is definitely constant. Thanks for your comment.
Feel the Fear book is one of the greatest things I have ever read, I consider it my bible. I also went on one of the workshops, which was very insightful.
Hi Dan,
It’s on my list of books to re-read – I’m revisiting the first 10 personal development books I’ve read and learning loads, even though I’ve read them before.
Dear Dan,
You brought up a great point about people focusing on the negatives rather than the positives when resisting change. I guess the other important aspect to consider is fear of the discomfort associated with change.
Cheers for the short and sweet article. BTW I am new here.
Hi Jimmy, you are welcome here! That’s a good point – great that you’ve put “associated with” because the truth of the experience rarely lives up to your expectation of discomfort!
Could it be that a person would be afraid of change simply because what he/she is doing now or what has done in the past has worked.. so then when asked to do something different than the norm it would strike a sort of fear in that persons Belief of succeeding?
Thanks for this question Johnny. We’re all creatures of habit and would love each situation in our lives to turn out exactly the same way each time! I think the answer is yes, it could definitely be that.
Change is a topic which has fascinated me for ages. I work with an older age group and their resistance to change seems to be tied up with their sense of security. I get the impression they feel safe with what they know and dont want to ‘rock the boat’.
That doesn’t surprise me at all! Great observation.