Conquering Change and Fear

Why are we so resistant to change? When have you been forced to change and looking back it actually turned out to be the best thing for you and it took and area of your life to the next level?

Today, I am going to address the very thing I talk about the most: being willing to try something new, to change, to be open-minded!

When the Unexpected Happens

Two months ago, I thought my podcast was going to be done when I received an unexpected announcement from Spotify. They were no longer going to be using Anchor, the recording editing platform I had used from the start of my podcast. When I first started my podcast, my daughter set me up on a free podcasting app called Anchor. I have used that from the beginning to record, edit and distribute my podcast. I started with a small mic and my iPad on my side porch. If you go back and listen to the first episodes you can hear birds chirping in the background. Some of my listeners thought the birds were too loud and distracting, others loved it. Spotify eventually bought Anchor and there was no real change. Everything has been moving along smoothly. Until the announcement that Spotify was shutting down Anchor and forming a partnership with Riverside. I watched all the tutorials thinking this was going to be another smooth transition. “I can learn Riverside,” I thought. What they failed to mention in these tutorials is that to use Riverside you needed a computer, not an iPad. I panicked! I talked with my daughter and my son, they are so proficient with technology, they investigated my situation and said: “Mom there is not another platform out there you can use. They all require a computer.” My computer is 10 to 15 years old. It’s so out of date, I couldn’t use it. I began to question whether I should continue to podcast. I spent a lot of time in prayer asking God: “Is this the end of me podcasting?”

Have you had this happen in your life? Maybe not with a podcast, but you’re going along and then something unexpected happens that is out of your control? During this time, I did a lot of self-reflection. Do I want to continue podcasting? Is what I’m doing actually useful? Where would I put my time if I wasn’t researching, creating, recording and promoting my podcast? Is sharing successful life principles from a Christian perspective something God wants me to do? Was my four-year run of podcasting coming to an end? I was at a crossroads; feeling overwhelmed and, yes, fearful!

That long introduction brings me to this topic: “How do we handle the unexpected; something that is out of our control?” I’m addressing it while the experience is fresh on my mind. Do we quit? Do we decide that we are not willing to fight for what we want? Do we go into a victim mentality and blame everything and everyone and not believe there is a solution? Think about yourself here, how have you handled these situations?

Solving the Problem

After dealing with this in my own life, here are some simple ideas that can bring us out of being overwhelmed about the problem, to actually solving the problem.

• Pray about it!
• See the problem as it is! Don’t make it smaller than it is, don’t make it larger than it is! Get clarity!
• Reframe your lens; the way you are seeing the problem. See it as a challenge. Don’t see this as the end! See it as possibilities for a new way. Stay open not closed
• Become curious; become resourceful! Gather information of ideas to solve the problem. Write them down. As many as you can find. Stay out of the emotional headspace!
• Keep it simple. Pick one idea, create a plan and implement it. Don’t get in the paralysis by analysis headspace! Small decisive action toward solving the problem is still working toward a solution.
• Make this your mindset: “If that doesn’t work, I’ll try something else.”
• Believe you and God will find a solution.

When we are facing roadblocks, this formula works.

My Solution

To continue with my story, I went to my husband explained my situation. We talked about having my old computer brought up to date. That wasn’t a good solution. I realized, I needed to buy a new computer. I went to the Apple Store, explained I was a podcaster and had him show me the computer I would need. We went back to the store and made the investment. This is my real-life situation. I am now trying out this episode on my new laptop. I am now using a different platform to record, edit and send out my episodes. The crazy thing is, it’s all actually better! The sound quality for my podcast has improved. I have new and better options for my podcast.

I am presently trying to figure out new intro music. I can now produce snippets of my episodes to promote my podcast on my social media outlets. Is there a learning curve, yes! I am having to devote more time as I’m learning new things. I am making progress!  But the opportunities for my podcast have grown exponentially. I now can be a guest on other people’s podcasts, which I have been asked in the past, but my iPad-only use prevented it. Now, if I would like, I can actually have guests on my podcast. I’ve thought about making my podcast an audio and video podcast—which would allow me to expand my podcast to YouTube. Again, now there are limitless possibilities! This is my current real-life story. The thing that has been a struggle, this unexpected change, this challenge, could be my biggest blessing as far as my podcast is concerned. I share this because I was exactly where you are, feeling the way you are feeling, but there was a way. It was important to me, I had to get out of my emotions and figure it out. I took the steps I shared with you.

What I thought was going to end my podcast is actually the very thing that is going to grow my podcast—and it’s growing me too!

Try it!

Test this out for yourself. Don’t just take my word for it. If something is important enough to you, you and God can figure it out! I believe God wants me to continue to create, record and promote a podcast that shares success principles from a Godly perspective. It’s what I have a passion to do!  I’m learning that when I share ideas, like you, I have to be willing to change, to try new things, even if it is uncomfortable. This first applies to me! Upgrading and now using a computer has been challenging, but I believe it’s making my podcast better! I was scared, I was overwhelmed, the very thing I’m sharing with you I use myself. But again, don’t take my word for it. Use these principles for yourself!

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Monette hosts a weekly podcast: Mornings with Monette. She has been a lifelong learner and and appreciates the opportunity to share what she has learned–both through her podcast and here at The Best-Life Project (based on the content of her weekly podcast). Her messages are raw, honest and straight from the heart. She lives in Albuquerque, NM with her husband Leland. They have three adult children and are enjoying living their best lives filled with travel and adventure.