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        Several years ago, an article appeared in the Los Angeles Times that profiled a remarkably successful woman. This woman seemed to have it all: She was attractive, happily married, the mother of three remarkable children, and she played an important role in many political and charitable entities. The article ended with a look at this woman's mothering skills. Each of her three children had been valedictorian of his or her high school class, all played a musical instrument well, all had been active in school sports and extracurricular activities, and all seemed to embody healthy relationships with their friends and family.

        The reporter asked this woman how she had managed to achieve such a difficult parenting accomplishment at a time when so many American families were threatened. This remarkable woman shared a story with the reporter in which she divulged that the only thing that she felt set her apart from other parents was that she had always emphasized the role that change could play in each of her children's lives. She was so committed to embracing the power of change that each of her children on his or her 16th birthday received a gold necklace attached to the word "change," to serve as a reminder that nothing ever stays the same. This gifted mother told the interviewer she felt that if her children could learn to "roll with the punches" life would inevitably send their way, they would be able to handle both the good times and the bad with grace.

The opportunities of change

        Most of us did not grow up in such a change-friendly atmosphere. In fact, it's fair to say that we tend to fear, rather than welcome, change. Part of the reason is that change can all too often seem threatening. This, of course, says more about our belief in our own abilities than it does about whatever situation we may be facing. Unfortunately, it sometimes seems that human nature, whenever we are faced with change, automatically focuses on the possible risk rather than on the reward.
During the past year, the best-selling bible of change has become Spencer Johnson's book Who Moved My Cheese? Designed to help people deal with change in both their work and personal lives, this entertaining parable has helped millions of readers understand that change can be something to be enjoyed rather than feared.

        If you sometimes find yourself becoming resistant to change (and who doesn't, at least occasionally?), here are five aspects of change that offer you a different vantage point:

1. Flexibility
With each passing year, it gets easier and easier to get set in your ways. Welcoming change in your life is the perfect way to avoid personal and professional rigidity.

2. Opportunities
Instead of thinking of change as a threat, it's far more productive to think of change as a force for constant opportunity. Within every change, there's bound to be something that can open the pathway to bigger and better results.

3. Forced growth
Lots of people reach a certain plateau in their lives and are perfectly happy to keep things just the way they are. Those individuals, in particular, are the types who really need change because it is one of the only ways that they will ever grow.

4. Self-discovery
Sometimes the best way to learn about yourself is to be placed in an unusual situation. Becoming aware of who we are and what we need is the type of byproduct that change provides almost effortlessly.

5. Adaptability
One of the most valuable by products of change is learning how to cope with different aspects of life. The woman in Los Angeles referred to it as "rolling with the punches," but adaptability can take place in a variety of guises.

President John F. Kennedy frequently spoke of "grace under pressure," which is yet another way to express being able to function well under unforeseen circumstances. This is a trait that winners learn to embrace on their path to success.

Source: Women's Leadership Exchange (WLE) www.womensleadershipexchange.com.

About Author:
Connie Glaser is a best-selling author and one of the country’s leading experts on gender communications and women’s leadership issues. A frequent speaker at corporate and women’s events, including Women's Leadership Exchange (WLE) Atlanta, she may be reached at connieglaser@aol.com and www.connieglaser.com.