Change (v): To act or become different. 

Throughout my life, I have experienced a lot of change. From moving to Indianapolis, living with different parental figures, dealing with unstable relationships, that dreaded adult transition we all go through in life, plus so much more. It's safe to say, I've encountered a lot of change. 

What I've realized through these changes of life is that change can be a struggle. One of the most important things I've learned is that it's important to look at it through a new lense. Here are some tips I've been working on to conquer the challenge of change. 

1: Remember that change is inevitable. 

 Although you may not like it, we ALL experience it. There is nothing you can do to prevent change. Life moves forward and things will always be changing in one way or another. How you decide to deal with it makes all the difference. Be more resilient and grow during this time. Set new goals, healthy habits, and channel a positive mindset to help you stay motivated to overcome. For me, It's all about planning healthy meals, allowing myself time to run every day to keep the positive endorphins flowing/to keep my body in shape,and setting bigger and better goals for myself consistently. Doing these things keeps me growing and glowing and is a much better alternative than spending hours complaining in my bed about change while playing games on my phone or watching Netflix. Allow yourself to have a healthy mindset. If you are struggling with this try saying " I can't change this situation of change, so what can I do to grow as an individual during this difficult or new phase in my life". From there, I usually like to assess and write down positive procedures that I plan to do for myself. 

2:Consider the upside of change. 

Instead of focusing on the bad risks and limitations of change, try to think of it as a door for a new opportunity in life. Yes, something is going to be different but it could be the most amazing change of your life. Accept the change. Let me tell you about a time change was the best thing that happened in my life. A few years ago, I decided to move to the city. Moving to Indianapolis was a scary thought for me. I understand Indy is not a huge city and is nothing compared to Chicago or NYC but coming from a small town, it was big to me. Growing up, I lived in a small town in Southern IL. Driving through it, if you blink, you've missed the town. I had thought about moving multiple times throughout my life and finally one day took action and made it happen. Surrounding myself in a place with more opportunities has set me to excel higher than I've ever imagined.  From this experience. I have worked as a Sales Rep and a Recruiter for a multi-million dollar company, been a talent scout and have had multiple modeling and acting experiences, met people from all across the world and heard their stories and have tried many new foods. From making the change,I have grown exponentially as a person and I am so thankful for the choice I made for my life. So please, take that leap of faith and think about how positively what you are experiencing can impact your life because honestly all of the things we sometimes think will never happen CAN happen for YOU. 

3: Find strength from within yourself. 

Everyone handles change differently and that's okay. For me, times of change have been difficult until I learned tips on how to reframe my outlook and find strength in myself. In the past, I have looked for every possible reason to blame on why I couldn't handle the new things happening in my life or how I cold avoid change.  Seriously, abort mission! Do not get trapped in this way of thinking like I was. Change was not my friend and I hated it. I honestly think I was content in my bubble of comfort and when change hit me I was not a happy camper. Once I took complete ownership of myself and realized "Hey, I can get through this and I will be okay" everything changed. Here's the thing, you have to do that for yourself. Allow yourself to stop and acknowledge that you are in charge of you. You are a strong individual and you have the power to succeed and do anything you want to. I know change can be hard and stressful, I get it, but perseverance is key. Pull that strength out of your heart and keep moving forward on your good days, bad days, and every single day. Not everyday is going to be a walk in the park and understanding that is essential. The results you will receive will be life changing by finding your strength. Everything you need to succeed is already inside of you, It's up to you to take extreme ownership and start changing your life. 

The unknown that is associated with change is scary but by remembering that change is inevitable, considering the upside of change, and finding strength from within yourself, you are taking the first steps to being a better you, living a happier life, and accepting change in a new light. I hope these three tips help you to conquer the challenge of change or inspire you to view it from a new perspective. 

As always, I am here for anyone who is going through this currently and would like to connect on this topic. Feel free to message me via the contact form under the Let's chat page. 

Thanks so much for taking time to check out my page and this post. 

xoxo 

Shelby 

(The photo used in this post is not mine. I wish I knew who made it so i could give credit where it is due.)