I wrote this a few years ago, after I left CCFm and the change was very dramatic. I went from being very busy and life having seemingly a lot of purpose to doing very little and needing to try and find some purpose to my life. After all, by the time I left CCFm, I had raised my children and taken care of my Mother-in-Law. So I found myself not mothering children or caring for Granny. Life has so many seasons and each day is made up of a little sliver of each of them. For me, I generally don’t like change, no matter how small, but as I get older I have learned to cope with it and it’s usually by employing these 4 principles.
1. “Be Patient With Yourself.”
I often say these words to myself. People make a lot of money in dealing with change management (475 000 000 results when you Google ‘change management’!) People don’t like change. They find it hard to adapt to change. They don’t want change. For me leaving CCFm was a massive change of psychological equilibrium relating to my self-worth! When I was ‘on the radio’ I felt so much more valuable! I was no more valuable than I am today, but I felt I was. That’s the unsettled shift in my mental and emotional equilibrium. Patience was needed. I reminded myself that I was still as valuable as ever, just in a different environment! I soon got the position I am now in, working from home helping South African teachers find positions in the Middle East. It’s a great job I am blessed to have it. The change to it was a positive one. I strove to get it and I the journey was made easier by being patient with myself and knowing that one day it would happen.
2. Don’t “Go It Alone”
Many years ago during the war days in Rhodesia, travelling between cities by road was dangerous. For that reason, armoured vehicles with well-armed soldiers (gunners) would lead convoys of cars on national roads, protecting them from what we referred to as terrorist ambushes. Phrases such as ‘catching the convoy’ or ‘going it alone’ were often mentioned. Always, always, ‘catching the convoy’ was the wise and safest way to go. When it comes to change, the same advice applies. You don’t want to ‘go it alone.’
Right after I left CCFm, I started Beth Moore’s Breaking Free course. My (wonderful) friend, Alison, was running it. At the time, I hardly knew her and contacted her the day before the course began asking if I could join! This gracious and godly woman said yes! On the first day, I said I was there to try and find my identity in Christ. I had been so sucked into radio, that I felt my significance largely lay within the Rise and Shine show. Unbeknownst to me, this was God, leading me gently, but clearly away from a life that I was absolutely passionate about and that had me strongly in its grasp. God has used this course and the amazing group of women with whom I shared it to guide me through what could have been a trauma of note. Many times in the Bible, God repeats advice. He does it for emphasis. In my life this year, I have been doing the Breaking Free course twice. Once with Allie’s group on a Tuesday morning and again on a Friday morning with my regular Bible study group. This ‘double dose’ has been invaluable in reiterating the freedom I have in Christ. If you are struggling with change, don’t go it alone. Get help.
3.Get Into A Routine
From the start, I tried to get into a routine and stick to it. There were a few adjustments as I figured out what worked for me, but generally, my morning routine got arranged and I stick to it. This ensures that my day kicks off with structure and it makes me use my time more wisely.
4. Cling To God
I found this phrase in the Bible. It comes from Psalm 63:8.
I cling to You; Your right hand upholds me.
When I hear the word “cling”, it so conjures up complete dependence and determination not to let go! When you cling to another person, there is a big degree of desperation to be held and helped…to be secure and comforted. When we are at our wits ends, when we are grieving, desperate, lonely, depressed, uncertain, afraid, we cling to God. But now that I have let go of my safety net and I am in free-fall, regardless of how I feel, I cling! In happy times, when I am joyful, when I am smiling and content and not overwhelmed, I cling. Just make it a habit to cling to God. His right (dominant, strong) hand upholds me! Yeah!
#184 of my 1000 thanks is that God sees the changes coming – He knows they are there and He never changes!
These are the days!
Keep the smile going!
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂