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“Change can upend our sense of self, but it also offers opportunities for growth and transformation.”
~ Psychology Today

When dealing with the past, present, and future, multidimensional definitions, assumptions, prospects, predictions, and so forth are not agreed upon; this may result in fearful reactions.

The recent floating of currency issues is quite disturbing for some and promising for others. It visibly affects some in its immediate effects, creating gloom and doom to explore the future. In contrast, others see joining the global operation and, therefore, hope and national resurrection after a few years of economic struggle. However, we go with the flow for lay people who are not well-versed in global and local economies’ operations. 

We discuss change management at an organizational level, how global and national trends affect business relations, product and service demands, and the role of technology in facilitating the required changes to meet the challenges and, if possible, use technology to one’s advantage.

Unwarranted stress affects many who worry about what is going on without even realizing how the external frame of reference controls one’s day-to-day activities.  Powerlessness and inability to predict how to cope with the changes at a national level will trickle down to one’s pocket, survival, and managing life.  When we are part of the larger and local community, it’s crucial to understand how these changes directly impact our daily lives.

How do we manage changes at an individual level? As a psychologist, I would like to suggest ways to cope with them and, even better, to seize them as opportunities for advancement.

There is a saying, “The only constant thing in this world is change.”  In other words, if change is an inevitable reality of life that can create stress, we might as well know how that affects us and maneuver it to work for our advantage.  Stress is a normal physical and psychological reaction or response to the demands of life. The present economic structure is a type of stress we cannot hope to avoid, prevent, or influence. The trick in stress management is learning to distinguish between which stress we can avoid and which we cannot so that we are not constantly frustrated and devote our time and talent to areas where we can make a difference.

While everyone experiences stress, a prolonged period can affect one’s health and ability to cope with life. That’s why self-care is essential. It can help us see our problems in perspective and ease stressful feelings.  Sometimes, stress can be good. For instance, it can help us develop skills needed to manage potentially threatening situations in life. However, stress can be harmful when severe enough to make us feel overwhelmed and out of control.

Strong emotions like fear, sadness, or other symptoms of depression are expected as long as they are temporary and do not interfere with daily activities. If these emotions last too long or cause other problems, that will be a different story.

Coming back to the current stressor of the currency floating decisions, as individuals, we need to listen, read, and be knowledgeable about what that means for the global world, the nation, different sectors, the civil service, civil society, business, politics, education, economy, family, and personal life. 

As I stated, many of us may not be well versed in our economics knowledge.  However, adjusting to changes starts with knowing the facts.  When the economists disagreed on interpreting the situation, getting expert knowledge or which expert to believe was harder.  However, listening to different sides of the stories and being literate about the historical experiences of other countries, both good, bad, and ugly, helps to adjust to some realities.

Next to knowing the facts on the ground, adaptability survives us as the fittest.  We need to design ways to survive in this consistently changing economic reality.  Relearning better ways, mastering the new system, and developing marketable skills will help us cope with the transition and dislocation.

For those who go beyond managing and coping with changes, studying situations and analyzing trends, and creating demands that allow them to excel in the opportunities created, this will help them thrive and be blessings for themselves and others.   Personalizing refers to tailoring something to fit an individual’s needs, preferences, or circumstances. It is about making things more relevant and meaningful for a particular person. 

In this economically changing environment, I want to challenge each of us to establish a personal context, asking relevant questions: what matters most to me now? Where am I now in my journey concerning the changing context? What areas do I want to focus on for improvement? What opportunities are available to tap into to make out of these economic structural changes?  How can I actively embrace the inevitable change? How can I go beyond passively observing things unfold to taking intentional steps?

Written by: Seble Hailu

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