Resisting the Change
Change is All Around Us
As 2020 comes to an end I can’t help but be awestruck by all the changes that have occurred this past year! For me personally, thoughts of needed change (think finances and weight management) have been flooding my brain as 2021 is rapidly approaching.
Change is difficult! It’s safe to say, if we are not willing to change harmful habits and thoughts, we cannot expect to live our best life or help others to live theirs. If we remain resistant to change, but expect to see change, change will also be resistant to us.
When Your Child has a Special Need
This could not be more true for parents and educators of students with special needs. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, students with special needs currently make up 14% of the student population. Behind each one of those statistics is a caregiver and a teacher who must not resist making the changes necessary for their students.
For the primary caregiver, the first change needed is a change of mindset - to accept the reality of a this new discovery, and to debunk any negative thoughts and feelings about the future that often comes along with a diagnosis. The need to change thinking patterns and to focus on what their child can do is a choice that needs to be maintained for…….ever. While it is true that extra support will most likely be needed in the home and at school, it is not true that a disability will keep a child from living their best life when the proper adjustments are made.
For the teacher, being willing to change so that their student has access to the needed curriculum is critical. As a former para-educator, I’ve seen teachers resist even the slightest change in their teaching style, and I’ve seen teachers go above and beyond to find the perfect modification or accommodation. These needed changes help all students access curriculum that is necessary to foster independence. This independence is especially critical in the high school years as the student is preparing to transition out of school.
What is Your Why?
Dr. John Kotter, a leading expert on change, states this: “Take care of both Head and Heart.” Why are you making a change? What difference will it make? Dr. Kotter goes on to say, “To motivate people to change, you need to frame the opportunity from both a rational and emotional perspective. Too often, the “heart” of change is overlooked and glossed over. When challenges arise, it’s easy to come up with logical reasons not to change. It’s much harder to give into barriers when people are emotionally invested.”
If you stay away from negative thought patterns about why you have to make a change and focus on why you want to change, you will be more likely to persevere through the difficulties of breaking a habit.
Sooooo, here is my ending pep talk: You Are Capable of Change! And change that leads to permanent, positive results is worth it! No need to wait for a New Year’s Resolution – you can start now!