Most people’s daily routine is what they would call their normal day. For example, an employed person working the nine-to-five wakes up, gets ready for work, goes to work, does their tasks, and comes home at the end of the day. They repeat this routine day after day.
If there were to be a change in this routine, where it became totally disruptive, I wonder if they would welcome the change or not. If it was you, would you accept it happily or not?
So the next question is, do changed plans cause you anger and frustration? Perhaps you can brush aside a slight change, but what if the preparation you made came to nothing, despite investing a lot of hard work into a project to make it a success? Would you welcome the situation with hope, or would you be filled with annoyance?
If changed plans cause you anger and frustration here is what you can do:
Steps to Help You Accept Change
Here’s what you can do, instead of getting overwhelmed by anger or frustration, when faced with unwanted change.
Stop Blaming and Be Forgiving
It could be somebody, some particular incident, or you yourself may have been the reason why your plan did not go as planned, so don’t start blaming anyone or anything. Placing blame somewhere will not change the situation.
Ask yourself, why are you acting this way? Are your reasons to correct the situation, to check who is accountable, or to simply find whom to vent your anger towards? Be reasonable. If it is a person, anybody can make mistakes.
Be rational with your expectations. Yes, you may be more passionate about the situation than someone else, but don’t be mad at others if their passion is not as high as yours. So instead of blaming be forgiving.
Discover the Lesson
Your frustration may stem not only from a foiled plan but also because it may have cost you time and energy. As expensive as your loss may be, there will still be lessons to learn from your experience. That is why instead of focusing your attention on how something has failed, re-focus your attention on the valuable lessons you have now learned.
Remember that behind every failure is an opportunity to learn, the wisdom to know how to do your plan better next time, what to avoid, or to pursue, and when to strike again.
Re-Fuel Your Momentum
You may have tripped and had a fall due to an unwelcome incident, however, you have to pick yourself up, gather speed again, and keep the momentum going if you want to be a winner. Doing this will refuel you and give you the momentum needed to keep going toward your goal.
Finish What You Started
Even if your plans have changed and you are not happy, chances are the goal is still in front of you, so you can still finish what you started. You may just have a few detours and roadblocks to overcome. There will always be bumps in the road, you just need to work out how you intend to jump those hurdles.
Find value in what is left and continue from there. Broaden your gaze and set your sight once more on the finish line.
A Change In Plans Equals Another Opportunity
If you start to feel anger and frustration creep in when your plans have changed, step outside yourself and look at the bigger picture. An opportunity may have already presented itself, you just may have missed it.
As you know, ‘Every cloud has a silver lining.’ You just need to look for yours if you haven’t found it yet. Whatever happens in your life, your current day and your unknown tomorrow, are more important than your past. The beauty of tomorrow is that there is always a chance to start anew!
Final Thoughts
Changed plans can often cause feelings of anger and frustration because they disrupt our expectations and sense of control over a situation. When we have a plan in place, we create a mental picture of how things will unfold, and when that plan changes, it can be challenging to adjust our expectations and emotions accordingly.
Additionally, changes to plans can also be seen as a violation of our trust and a lack of consideration for our time and efforts in preparing for the original plan. This can further contribute to feelings of anger and frustration.
It’s important to remember that changes to plans are a normal part of life, and while they can be difficult to navigate, they are often due to catalysts outside of our control. Learning to manage our reactions to changing plans and practicing flexibility and adaptability can help us cope with these situations in a more positive and constructive way.
