How do you like change?
If you’re like most people, you’re not crazy about it. Some change is good. Some not so much. It can even be painful if it means you have to lose someone or something you love. There are times when the status quo is preferable.
But, change happens whether we want it to or not. So how do you manage it without it overwhelming you?
So far, we have talked about two dimensions of resilience: determination and endurance (Taormina, 2015). Another part of resilience is adaptability.
Adaptability helps you cope with unexpected or unpleasant situations by keeping you flexible and resourceful. You are able to adjust to the changes you experience. You make purposeful efforts to change the way you think about your environment so that you feel more comfortable with the outcome.
You know what? You may be more adaptable than you realize. Have you ever been married? You had to adjust to having a new person in your life. Have children? That definitely 
requires adaptability!
The thing is, these are changes that you want…usually. You probably initiated them yourself. You might not even have thought of it as a change that would cause you stress because it was generally a positive experience.
So what do you do when change is forced on you?
Well, if it is change at work you could quit. That would certainly be the easy way out, but it is usually not the best response. After all, if you’re like most people, you need the job. (And you probably like the job, at least before the changes.)
What if it is a change in your family? Someone becomes seriously ill, or has a chronic illness, or has died leaving you extremely sad with an empty place in your heart. That one is especially hard because it is more personal!
Believe it or not, you can adapt to this change too. Really, you say? Keep reading.
Adapting to change requires changing the way you think about it. That is how resilient medics cope without losing their minds. Instead of looking at how the change has inconvenienced you, find the ways it will benefit you. If you cannot find a personal benefit, 
how will it help in a broader sense: your agency, your family, your finances, etc.
What can you contribute to the overall mission that will make the transition smoother? How can you be a part of the solution?
Use change for your personal growth. Use it to help you become the best medic, and person, you can be. You can be an example for other, less resilient, medics and maybe help them find a different way to look at change too. Your adaptability is another way to help someone else while you are helping yourself.
What changes have you experienced? How did you adapt?
Leave your comment below. We would love to learn from your experience!
Taormina, R. J. (2015). Adult Personal Resilience: A new theory, new measure, and practical implications. Psychological Thought, 8(1), 35-46. doi:10.5964/psyct.v8i1.126
December 5, 2016 © 2016 Resilient Medic