There is an evolutionary benefit to being hesitant to change. When we expect things, and live our lives without many surprises, we can be comfortable with our scenario. Change represents the unknown, and the unknown represents a possibility of danger, even if the probability is low.

When you are home with your family eating a regularly scheduled dinner at a regularly scheduled time, you understand everything that is going on. Now imagine there is a man you have never seen before sitting with you – it is to your evolutionary benefit to be hesitant that there is a stranger there, because you do not know this stranger and this stranger could be dangerous.

It is this response that causes a host of emotions when we experience major life changes. Changes like:

• Getting a new job.
• Moving to a new city.
• Losing a loved one.
• Ending a relationship.
• Having children.

All of these throw you into a new experience, and the natural response to a new experience is fear and stress – because the new experience, however beneficial (such as a new job), still brings the unknown, and the unknown can be a scary place.

This stress can be even more pronounced when the change is unexpected, such as being fired or suffering a great loss. When you experience major life changes, it is not uncommon to need some help with treating it. That is where NLP/Hypnosis can come in handy.

30 August 2010