As the autumn winds sweep away the fallen golden leaves, I can't help but remember the correlation between this great season and change. Everything is changing at this time. The trees are preparing for the cold months ahead and shedding their leaves, birds are migrating towards warmer climates, and many animals hibernate until spring.

Are you feeling the cold nip encouraging change this season? What in your life do you want to change? Creating change in your life can be frightening but it can also be incredibly rewarding. Everyone has something about themselves, or about their life that they want to change. There is no better time than fall! If your reading this in another season, there is no better time than now!

Change Anxiety

If you are one of the many people that value security and stability change can be terrifying, even if the thing you want to change is causing you pain. To overcome your anxiety you must be brave. You must picture the change you want and how much joy it will bring into your life. Try the following visualization to cope with any anxiety:

Associate pain with the thing you would like to change. Visualize in your mind the pain it causes you. How is this thing making your life harder? Why do you want to change it? See yourself upset and in pain. Take a moment to visualize this. Now picture this thing you want to change and shrink it in your mind's eye. Shrink it until you can no longer see it, and then toss it far behind you. Then, visualize the positive change and how much better your life will be. See the positive change shaking off the old dyeing leaves on your tree so that better leaves can grow back green and fresh. Imagine yourself smiling, happy, and welcoming the change!

The way to combat change anxiety is to do the above visualization technique whenever you become anxious or even un-motivated. Reminding yourself of all the great things that come with this new change can get you over the hump.

Forced Change

While some change is a project to be undertaken, there are other changes that can be unforeseen and undesired. These changes are things like a separation in a relationship or termination at the work-place. When things like this happen it can be hard to see any warmth through the bitter cold. One of the habits of highly successful people is to not let these upsets get them down for too long. Many of these changes can lead to an inspiring new opportunity, or take you to a new and exciting phase of your life. If you stay hopeful you're likely to gain something better than what you have lost.

This is where gratitude is very important. When you feel misfortune at your back, remember all the things you have that so many others do not. Many people don't have food, or shelter. Many people are plagued with constant violence at their humble doorstep. What do you have to be grateful for?

Change is a Friend, not a Foe

Autumn is my favorite time of the year, and it should be one of yours as well. Change can be frightening but what can come after change can be well worth the tribulation. Where would you be now if your life had never changed? You would miss out on some negative moments, but you would also miss out on the moments that make life worth living. This fall celebrate change, and enjoy all that life has to give and has already given.