People who embrace change rather than resist it usually have these 7 distinct strengths

The only thing you can ever count on is that everything is always bound to change.

Seasons, jobs, relationship dynamics, appearances, or even passions – they all evolve and shift in one way or another, and before you know it, you’re looking back at a younger version of yourself, shocked that you have grown so much.

Impermanence is an inevitable part of life on planet Earth. And yet many people are terrified of it. They try tooth and nail to shield themselves from uncertainty, not realizing that their behavior is completely futile.

You can’t run from change. You can only accept it. If you resist, it will happen anyway – it will just take longer.

Here goes: people who embrace change rather than resist it usually have these 7 distinct strengths.

1) They believe that no matter what happens, they will be okay

When I first started working as a writer, I was scared witless. Choosing to become a writer meant choosing uncertainty. I knew I was saying goodbye to decades of having an employment contract, getting multiple work benefits, and having financial security.

It was also the best decision of my life.

If there’s one thing that writing for a living has taught me, it’s that no matter what happens, I will always find a way to make it work.

I spent the first few years going down rabbit holes of worrying and anxiety, only to end up in the hospital and completely burned out.

I knew I had to make a change. I knew I had to shift my mindset.

That was when I decided to embrace realistic optimism. If I always worried, I was either spoiling my happiness or attracting misfortune (or both). If I chose to enjoy the present moment and have a little faith, though…

I have felt an incredible peace of mind for a long time now, and it’s all thanks to the fact that I decided to embrace uncertainty and see it as something good (my future hides exciting opportunities) rather than something bad (my future hides terrible misfortune).

2) They’ve mastered the arts of detachment and attraction

Since nothing ever lasts forever, it makes zero sense to cling to things.

And yet we do. Every day, we hold on too tight to our material possessions, our relationships, or money. Every day, we worry, strive to achieve the highest form of stability possible, and worry some more.

This is where people who embrace change rather than resist it are different. They’ve become masters at detachment (the art of letting go) as well as attraction (the art of letting in).

If you realize that good things are coming your way, you no longer feel so afraid to let go of what you already have.

And that’s because sometimes, we need to create space for something new by letting go of what no longer serves us.

Even if it’s painful. Especially then.

I say that as someone who went through an incredibly rough breakup last year and who has been thriving ever since.

3) They operate from a mindset of abundance rather than scarcity

I grew up surrounded by scarcity. Not only in the realm of material things but also in terms of thoughts and actions. Everyone around me believed that they had very little and deserved only a tiny bit more, which meant they settled for whatever came their way.

They didn’t try to reach any higher than what seemed possible. Little did they know that their minds were their own limits.

At a very young age, I decided that I was meant for more. Many children feel this way, of course, but I stuck to it. 

I worked hard, hustled, and refused to give up, and as a result, I now live a life I always dreamed of, a life my classmates and family relatives used to say was nothing but a pipe dream.

This is partly because I’ve embraced a mindset of abundance, aka, the idea that you always have enough.

When you put in active effort to count your blessings and feel grateful for everything that you have, you’re radiating an energy of abundance out into the world.

I don’t mean to get all pseudoscience-y here, but the truth of the matter is that our brains magnify whatever it is we focus on, and therefore it makes sense that focusing on gratitude, awe, and happiness will help strengthen those neural pathways and help you feel happier – and less scared of uncertainty – overall.

An amazing book I recommend on the topic is Hardwiring Happiness by Rick Hanson.

4) They trust that the Universe works in their favor

Our beliefs about what constitutes a higher power may differ, but when it all comes down to it, most of us like to think there is something bigger and more powerful than us.

Something that gives all of this meaning.

I grew up in a very atheist community, thinking that everything that happened to me was nothing but coincidences colliding, and in the centre of it all, there was little ol’ me, carrying responsibility for every single mistake that occurred.

This isn’t to say we aren’t in charge of our own actions. We very much are.

But when you realize that there is only so much you can do and that there are plenty of things you can’t influence – your partner might not treat you right, you may get laid off as a result of a company bankrupting, your flight could be delayed ­– the next step is to embrace the art of surrender.

Surrender to the Universe and believe that it (almost) always works in your favor, even if it doesn’t feel like it in the moment.

Your partner might treat you poorly so that you can recognize your worth, leave them, and find someone better. You might have gotten laid off because there is a better job waiting for you.

Everything happens for a reason.

(Please note: this applies to ordinary life situations, not abuse or violence. Those are much more complicated matters.)

5) They trust their future selves to look after themselves

The reason I used to be so terrified of change was that I didn’t trust my future self to be able to deal with it.

I would overthink every possible future scenario, bite my nails to the quick, and pace around my apartment trying to figure out what I would do in case everything fell apart.

Then it dawned on me what was truly going on. I didn’t trust myself to be able to handle challenges. I was overpreparing because I didn’t want to be caught off guard because I didn’t think I was strong enough to improvise.

But then I thought back to all the challenges I’d overcome in the past, challenges I hadn’t seen coming and effectively dealt with anyway.

It was time to trust my future self to handle whatever came her way. It was time to let go.

6) They are resourceful and keep learning new skills

One thing you can do in the present moment in order to feel prepared for the future – without necessarily overthinking or worrying too much – is to learn skills and information that can come in handy.

I’ve effectively switched worrying for active learning, and it’s done wonders for my peace of mind, not to mention it’s boosted my confidence levels.

I’ve tried my hand at different kinds of sports so that I’m stronger and faster in case I need to be. I’ve been learning about survival in the wild. I’ve been very sensible with my finances so that I’m prepared for emergencies.

People who embrace change know that they will always be okay because they know how to seek new information, learn new skills, and find a new path when they’ve gotten lost.

In other words, they are resourceful enough to overcome every obstacle.

7) They are very self-compassionate

Self-compassion is underrated.

You might think that people who are self-compassionate only ever pity themselves and are stuck in the victim mindset, but the opposite is the case.

Self-compassion isn’t about pity. It’s about treating yourself the way you would your best friend.

When you’re going through a tough time, it’s okay to cry.

When you’re tired, it’s okay to take a break.

When you’re overthinking about the future, terrified of change, it’s okay to self-soothe and remind yourself you will be alright because you’ve got your back.

Because even people who embrace change are sometimes afraid of it. There’s no denying it: change is scary.

And you might always feel a tiny bit afraid. But courage isn’t the lack of fear. It’s the decision to go ahead in spite of how scared you are.

You will be okay.