Page 6 - Snoozer Guide to Mental Health and Wellness

Dealing with Change

So, how do we get through this? Understanding and processing the emotions

we are feeling is the key to acceptance. The path we are on is not a sprint, it is
a marathon. Give yourself and others the time and space they need to work

through each stage. As you work to integrate the change into your life, here are
some simple tools to help you along the way.

1. First, give yourself permission to feel. It is okay to feel the way you are
feeling. Grab onto that emotion, acknowledge it and say, “It is okay that I

am feeling this way.”
2. Feeling shocked is normal. When faced with change, it is common to ask
things like, “Why is this happening to me?”; “Do we need to change this?”;

“How can this be happening?”.
3. Recognize the journey on which you are embarking. As you venture into

the valley of emotion, you will likely feel “denial”, “anger” and “grief”, and
not always in that order. When you label the emotion, it takes away its
power and allows you to process it. “I am angry that we have to wear

masks when we work.”; “This can’t be happening to us.”; “I just want things
to go back to normal.”

4. Express your feelings. Talk to you GM, Head Chef, trusted friend or reflect
introspectively on how you are feeling. Talking/thinking about these
emotions allows you to gain perspective and process what you are feeling.

Remember, it is okay to feel that way.
5. This is a judgment free zone. If you are the person listening, it is

important to be empathetic, be sure not to judge them and allow the person
to express themselves. If you are introspectively processing, be empathetic
to yourself, do not judge how you are feeling and allow yourself to feel.

6. Find meaning in the changes which you are experiencing. Once you
have processed each emotion, you can begin to move out of the valley and

closer to integrating the change into your daily life. You have the power to
decide how this change will impact you. Learn how to work/live with the
change. Allow yourself to fail. You are in control and will decide when you

are ready to leave the valley and feel fully integrated and renewed.

Using these tools will help you recognize and understand change, learn how to
adapt to it and ultimately accept and find meaning among the uncertainty.