“There is nothing permanent except change,” said ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus.  

“In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes,” said founding father Benjamin Franklin.

“If you are not growing, you are dying,” said motivational self-development speaker and author Tony Robbins, among others.

Depending on your season of life, one of these quotes may resonate more than the others. But they all speak to similar themes some may find uncomfortable – change, lack of control, and uncertainty. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

Embracing Change is Life-Changing

If you lean toward a “glass half empty” outlook, there is a fair chance you have some natural, negative associations with change. You may think things will never be this good again, or that you’ll never be able to reach some personal or professional milestone in the wake of a career disruption.

But what if the change you are facing is the very thing you need? Is it possible things could be even better? If you reflect on your own history, my guess is you can think of a time when something turned out far better than you imagined in light of some type of change, wanted or not.

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The same is true for your life and career. Embracing change is not about enjoying it – it is about being open to the possibilities within the experience. If you approach a situation with a pessimistic, gloomy, or closed mind, chances are you will miss any opportunities therein.

Hint: You get what you look for – see the glass half full.  

Letting Go of Control is Freeing

If the idea of not being in control freaks you out, welcome to the club. Modern-day conveniences have fostered a sense of false control (and security). The truth is, man is no more in control today than we were at the dawn of time. Mother Nature reminds us of that with each hurricane, flood, blizzard, and heat wave.

And if we are honest, being in control of everything and everyone all the time is exhausting. So, give yourself permission to not be in control. That doesn’t mean abandon your responsibilities or authorities as a spouse or parent or child or etc. – rather, recognize what is truly in your control and let the rest go!  

When control is no longer the goal or desire, we can be present to the people and events taking place around us. We are not calling each play or constantly thinking about mitigation plans from the sidelines, but rather actively playing out our own life in real time.  

Hint: You only get to control you – your thoughts, your words, and your actions.

Reframing Uncertainty Is Liberating  

Don’t beat yourself up if you avoid uncertainty like the plague. There is value in having certainty – like for safety checks, or medical-related issues, or countless other reasonable, lifesaving reasons. But that does not mean that all certainty is good or that uncertainty is bad. Reframing uncertainty into something positive can be a very liberating exercise.

If we place too much value on certainty, we could be prone to lots of anxiety. We may be frequently overwhelmed when asked to make decisions without every piece of information. Think of the last time you faced that circumstance – what was your anxiety level? What were you afraid of?

The next time you have a decision or action to make in light of uncertainty, reframe the experience as a choice versus a binary option. Oftentimes we default to notions of “right” or “wrong” when the best option might be something in between.

Hint: You get to determine your relationship with uncertainty.

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Preparing for Change

Embracing change, letting go of control, and reframing uncertainty can help take the pressure off and give you the space and grace you need to carefully and thoughtfully plan your next steps.

Even if a job change is not within your control, or you find yourself stuck in a rut and are actively seeking your next opportunity, your approach will dictate your experience and outcome.

When change is no longer the perceived enemy, things are no longer “out of control” and uncertainty represents untapped opportunity. With this outlook, your entire demeanor toward a career pivot shifts to something more hopeful … and will help you stay alert and tuned into untapped opportunities.

MOAA Is Here to Help!

Need support for your journey? Check out these accessible, actionable resources from MOAA:

• Feb. 28: MOAA’s Executive Career Transition Accelerator Seminar
• Tuesdays in March: Dare to Dream: Live the Life You Love!
• March 20: Salary and Benefits Primer: Maximize Your Compensation Package
• Paid member offerings: Career consultations and résumé reviews

Want to help MOAA drive change for the good in the wider uniformed services community? Consider joining us in October for TotalForce+, a first-of-its-kind conference putting people first. Click here to join our waitlist.