A long one, but a good one.
We've all heard the adage, "Only thing that is constant is change," haven't we? But continual change is not without consequences.
There have been so many changes to the world around us in the past couple of years. A worldwide pandemic sent us into quarantine with unprecedented isolation that many have yet to recover from. Zoom became a household word as we moved our lives from real people to friends and coworkers on a screen. Many left the workplace in droves deciding they could earn a living digitally to they figured out how to retire early. It was the perfect storm to create runaway inflation. Gas prices are up, stock values are down, and our heads are spinning!
Our brains struggle with constant change. Psychologists talk about change in this spiral: change-uncertainty-stress.
Change creates a vague sense of uneasiness that triggers the body's threat response, generating various chemical reactions that can perpetuate even more anxiety as we continually question, "What's gonna happen next?"
When change is continual, stress becomes relentless and unpredictable, leaving us in a constant state of alert. Part of our brain always remains vigilant just in case change brings dire consequences.
Without getting too technical, let's take a look at what this puts our bodies through:
Among other things like driving up blood pressure and blood sugar, the process increases inflammation in the body that exacerbates all kinds of other medical maladies. The prolonged stress response kills brain cells reducing the size of the brain, and it quite literally shrinks the prefrontal cortex, the area responsible for memory, learning, and decision-making.
So when your spouse calls you a pea brain, they may be right. Although if your spouse is calling you names, that could be a serious source of your stress. No name-calling. It's a deal-breaker in any relationship! Just sayin'.
Along with decreasing the size of the prefrontal cortex, it increases the size of the amygdala, the area responsible for our fight or flight response. That make's it more receptive to stress, causing a vicious cycle as stress begets more stress.
We're going to look at some tools by experts for how to be resilient to deal better with the environment of change. I have ABC's to help. I actually have a D and E as well. I am a southerner. We have a lot to say. We can't even say Good Morning is less than 6 syllables.
• Access your assets-careful not to say that too fast
• Be in the moment.
• Change your thought patterns
• Don't isolate.
• Evaluate what's important and prioritize that.
A-Access Your Assets:
Our greatest asset is access to the power of the Living God! We can handle anything life dishes out, including the fear of death itself, when we trust the Lord, when we trust that a power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity. We know that the power we seek is the loving Savior Himself, Jesus, who wants to be our friend and get us through the changes we are experiencing to the other side with confidence and not regret.
B- Be in the moment.
This verse has become part of my daily mindful meditation to keep me in the now. Jesus, Himself said in Matthew 6:34, "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes "(The Message).
We can waste our lives and stress ourselves out stuck in a rumination rut with thoughts of regret about the past, fears about the future, worry about what is going to happen to folks we love, or how we are going to get through the ever-mounting to-do list for today and the days ahead. Or we can soberly recognize that life exists in the current moment. The present moment is where the Lord can truly bless us with His presence; that is where the power is.
C--Change our thought patterns. Change your thought patterns; nudge them toward resilience.
I have built my entire counseling practice on helping people deal with their stinkin' thinkin'. Why? Because my own committee or internalized parent crippled me. That's one of the reasons I studied psychology and theology in school, to help me and other people like me get unstuck... To figure out how to embrace positive self-talk and not circle the drain.
We seek to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so instead of the toxic words going over and over in our heads, we embrace the promises of God from Scripture, His love letter to us.
Duet. 31:6, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble."
Psalm 73:24, "You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory."
These promises and more are in His Word and available to us. When these become our self-talk, our lives are changed.
D- Don't isolate.
During Covid, I heard one gal say, "You know you're an introvert when there is a global quarantine, and your life doesn't change."
God didn't design us to go through this life alone. And Jesus set the example by doing life in community even with people who were far less than perfect.
Reach out to someone. Connect. You're not alone!
E-Evaluate what's important and prioritize that.
The most resilient people see change as an opportunity rather than a monster to fear. Transitions in life allow us to consider our priorities. What really matters most in this world? How do you really want to spend your time?
Maybe this is the perfect time to invest in the devotional life you always wished you had. We gotta know that Satan doesn't want that to happen. And he will do anything he can to keep you from the closeness to Christ that you need, and Jesus desires.
I want to close with this quote from the pen Samuel Brengle, an early officer in the Salvation Army born in the 1860's:
"Once when I knelt for morning prayers I felt a sort of deadness in my soul, and just then the 'accuser of the brethren' became busy reminding me of things that had long since been under the blood.'
I cried to God for help, and the blessed Comforter reminded me that my great High Priest was pleading my case; that I must come boldly to the throne of grace. I did and the enemy was routed."
To rout an enemy means to defeat them thoroughly, to stampede them. We can stampede Satan, the enemy of our souls, and his minions with our prayers.
When times of change hit us, and we find ourselves moving from change to uncertainty to stress, let's face it, Satan will do his best to disquiet our souls. So let's review our ABC's for dealing with change in our lives:
Access your assets--We have the greatest asset, the Spirit of the living God inside of us, giving us the power to handle everything if we let Him.
Be in the moment—There's no sense stressing out about the past or the future, both are out of our control. But we can be in the moment and reflect on what we have going for us in the now.
Change your thought patterns—we can replace our stinkin' thinkin' with the welfare and not calamity that God promises us in His Word.
Don't isolate. You don't have to go this alone. Reach out.
Evaluate what's important and prioritize that. Press into the Savior who died to prove His love for you.
Praying for resilience.