The word change can be used to mean the following:

Making something or situation appear different from its original stage, which may be positive or negative.

Change means altering the state or the quality of something or a situation from what it originally used to be. It is to bring a difference to something, a situation or someone either positively or negatively.

Change involves something entering a new phase, which may either be positive or negative. Change is a fact of life or a reality that can never be avoided. It is irresistible and therefore one is forced to accept it.

Quite often, any change comes with a new experience. This requires that one must make a choice either to accept or reject the change.

Positive changes are always accepted and they tend to bring joy to the people. However, people tend to hate, resist and resent negative changes. This is because such changes are associated with emotional and physical pain.

Change in itself is neither good nor bad. It is what man does about change in himself and in nature that makes him more or less human.

Attitude towards Change Today

As already pointed out, any change comes with a new experience in life. For this reason, it tends to attract different reactions before, during and after its occurrence.

1. There is always the feeling of uncertainty for the unknown. What the future holds become unclear and at the end, one is caught up with the feeling of insecurity. This is what prevents an individual from enjoying what ought to be enjoyed.

2. Some people do not care much about changes unless their own lives are affected. Such people simply sit back and watch the changes taking place until they are personally touched.

3. To some people, tension tends to build when changes are expected. For example, sudden examinations or being told to travel to a place one has never been to is associated with such a high level of emotional instability.

4. Some people experience nostalgia after change has occurred. They long for the good old days which unfortunately belong to their past. This is always marked by the common phrase that "I wish ... "

5. Other people accept change as a fact of life. To these people, change is viewed as a normal aspect of human life.

6. Some people resist changes in life. This is the case with the conservatives who want things to be done the way they are used to.

7. Some people experience anxiety. They become nervous and are uncomfortable with the self.

8. Other people accept and welcome everything new as being good. These are the people who not always bothered by the new development even when it may be negative.

9. There are some people who are always filled with excitement or joy for positive changes.

10. Other people are motivated after experiencing change especially if it is good. They are encouraged to work harder such that they may benefit more from the new change.

11. Some people experience happiness and sorrow at the same time. They are over whelmed by the changes and are therefore caught up in tears of joy

12. There are some people who look at changes as all bad and upsetting. This is the case with people having extreme views. They tend to have a negative attitude towards anything new.

13. Some people are caught up by feelings of fear and insecurity of any new development. This may be caused by the previous past experiences, which could have been bad.

14. Some people experience depression. These people are always sad or gloomy most of their time. This comes as a result of losing hope in the new development. They may even choose to keep quite without associating with others freely.

15. In other cases, people tend to blame each other and look for excuses even when the changes are genuine. Such people are interested in avoiding taking the blame especially if they expect something negative.

16. Some people tend to avoid change. This is especially if they had been happy with the-present state.

17. Some people feel stressed before and after the change. They experience great pressure and worry almost all the time. This may be as a result of over thinking about the outcome of the change.

18. Some people find it difficult to change even if it is good. These are people who cannot give reasons for their feelings or reactions,

19. Some people tend to withdraw from the changes that have taken place. They tend to resign and give up whatever they may be doing. This mostly happens when the outcome of the change is negative.

 

Reasons why some people fear change

Because change comes with new experiences, it is difficult to predict the outcome. This tends to create tension and consequently fear among people. This is because of the following.

1. Change tends to disrupt or interfere with the old order. This makes it difficult for some people to accept change easily.  

2. Contentment with the current state of affairs makes some people fear change. Such is the case with the people satisfied with whatever could be going on. Therefore, calling for a change would make them unstable and unsettled.

3. Unpleasant past experiences can also cause the fear of change. This is particularly true when the individual had some similar encounter before, especially if it was frustrating. Because of this, some people tend to associate any change with suffering hence causing fear.

4. Some people fear to bear the responsibility of change, especially if it would affect people negatively. They fear being blamed for causing changes that could eventually disrupt the normal life in the society.

5. Other people have fear for the unknown. This comes from failing to predict the outcome of the change.     

6. Some people fear change because of conservatism. These are people who believe that things should always be the way they are even without any reasons.

7. Some people fear losing friends or family as a result of change. Such an individual may feel that the change would break the already existing relationship.

8. Change is at times feared because of low level of education or ignorance. This is the case with people who may not be aware that change can be for the better.

9. Change is also feared because of-the need to preserve the existing culture. This is the case in situations where the change is expected to come with a new and different way of life affecting the existing culture negatively.

10.            Some people fear getting stuck halfway in the course of the change. This is caused by the fear of shame that may be associated with the change.

11.            Change is feared if it requires a lot if resources from people like time and money. This makes the new change appear costly for the individual to handle.

12.            Some people tend to associate change with a lot of work. This creates fear because of the much expected workload that-the individual is not used  

13.            Change is feared because of laziness. This is the case with inactive people who could have been failing to perform the task at hand. Therefore, bringing something new would cause more panic than the usual.