In my last post I talked about "agency" and "communion," those polar opposites that require frequent balance and calibration. Well, that's not the only balance we need to strike in life to be mentally healthy. Another is the balance between "routine" and "change."
I had a conversation the other day with someone who had just recently moved a great distance. The furniture is not in place. The washer is not hooked up. The boxes containing those things that make life comfy and familiar haven't been located yet. My sincere sympathies. Having made a major move not so long ago, I know this discomfort all too well.
In another conversation, a friend with a disability described how the routine of being at home makes life easier. To venture into unfamiliar places creates anxiety and tension. The challenges imposed by a handicap make routine all the more important, even necessary.
We rely on routine to make our lives predictable and orderly. We put things in certain places so we can find them easily. A routine is something we do without having to think about it much.
At the opposite end of the continuum is change. Change teaches us flexibility, adaptability, resilience. Although there is a resistant part in all of us, healthy people recognize that change helps us push our personal envelope. Just as lack of routine suggests a problem, so does a high degree of resistance to change.
When life throws you into turmoil, finding ways to reintroduce some routine is a good thing. And when your life is so routine that you won't venture out of your comfort zone, you need a little change. So periodically, it's a good idea to check your routine/change continuum to see if re-balancing is in order.
Yesterday I noticed that a new ice cream stand has opened just about two miles from home. Normally, I'm not tempted by ice cream, but Gifford's is an exception. There's no doubt that I'll go. The only question is: should I order my old standby, French Vanilla or take a chance on Chocolate Moose Tracks?
Copyright 2008 Starfishdoc
2 comments:
moose tracks!! my team at work has been feeling the discomfort of change and coming out of our normal routines...The vibe at work is tense, company-wide, and management-namely our manager-is not doing anything to alleviate these pressures on her team. Have you any experience in coaching coaches in situations of pressure and change?
Hi Court,
What you describe is the typical stress that occurs when this kind of balance is upset. Typically, what needs to happen when there is too much change going on, is to keep some things the same. That way people can fall back on the familiar and tolerate the change aspects better. (It would be a good time for French Vanilla.)I have lots of experience working with managers on this. If someone there wants to work with me, I can be reached at drstarfishat gmaildotcom for further info. And thanks as always for your comments and insights.
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