Embracing change: Overcoming anxiety and fear of the unknown
A Butterfly on a leaf. (Photo by Zett Foto from Pexels)
Are you afraid of change? Do you have feelings of fear of the unknown?
After graduating from High School, we become anxious about stepping into college. We also feel worried about getting a new job, promotion, or a career change. Changes in life or our lifestyles that we are used to bringing anxiety and fear.
But look at the Butterfly.
It inches along a branch as a caterpillar, content in its slow, organized life. One day, it forms a cocoon—a silent, dark space that appears as an end but is truly a splendid start. Within, the caterpillar undergoes a profound metamorphosis, emerging as a butterfly. With wings aglow in sunlight, it gains the power to soar through the sky gracefully. Though dramatic and daunting, this transformation is essential for the caterpillar to realize its complete potential.
Metathesiophobia: Fear of the unknown
The term Metathesiophobia is the fear of change. It signifies the apprehension of alteration as a prevalent facet of the human condition. The anxiety that ensues when confronted with unfamiliar scenarios disturbs the established routine of our daily lives. This fear is an intrinsic and commonplace emotion.
The feeling of uneasiness and apprehension in the face of the unknown is inherent. According to psychologists, some common fears that can hold people back from living their fullest lives include:
- Fear of failure.
- Fear of judgment.
- Fear of rejection.
- Fear of the unknown, fear of being alone.
- Fear of starting over.
Nevertheless, proactive intervention becomes imperative when this fright impedes personal growth or causes disturbances to our serenity. Confronting this fear becomes pivotal in embracing change.
Why change feels scary
In general, humans often harbor a reluctance towards change. This inclination is rooted in the way our brains are wired. It prioritizes safety through pattern recognition and adherence to the familiar. In prehistoric times, encountering something new triggered a beneficial evolutionary response in our brains. However, in contemporary times, the fear of change can become a hindrance rather than a safeguard.
Moreover, past experiences also contribute to this resistance. If a previous change yielded unfavorable outcomes, our brains retain that memory. Fortunately, one can rewire thought patterns to counteract automatic responses. When faced with impending change and the brain signals past concerns, reassuring it with a confident "we can handle this" allows for a more open approach to change.
The reality of change
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens"
We have four seasons – winter, spring, summer and fall. An ancient verse from Biblical times encapsulates a powerful and unchangeable reality. Life's ever-changing cycle is as inevitable as the tides of an ocean. This nugget of wisdom is often credited to King Solomon. It gives us profound knowledge into this human journey we all share, honesty portraying the unavoidable fluctuations in our lives.
Adjustments and shifts they're constants in the course of our existence. It's a sure thing that erases everything we know and leads us on uncharted terrain. We might attempt to seize what is known with desperation, fighting hard to clutch onto what used to be. But eventually, the pull will release us. These changes are as realistic as the first ray of the morning sun.
What drives our relentless resistance to change? It could be the anxiety of uncertainty. It could be the spine-chilling enigma that dwells in the future that we cannot see.
But change is not an enemy. It's a teacher. It cracks open our rigid shells and exposes us to new possibilities. It forces us to adapt, to grow, to learn. Like a sculptor chiseling away at the raw stone, change shapes us into something more robust, resilient, and beautiful than we ever imagined.
The biblical perspective on change fosters resilience and a deeper understanding of the human journey. Embracing change becomes a spiritual exercise, aligning individuals with the higher purpose embedded in the cosmic order. Ecclesiastes prompts introspection, urging individuals to discern the seasons of their own lives and recognize the purpose within each transformative moment.
