Why is Change so Hard?
Change is both expected and unexpected. We know this about life. But why does it feel so hard—and sometimes, so scary?
I asked myself this recently. Change stirs up emotion: excitement, uncertainty, discomfort. That discomfort fuels anxiety. It can feel overwhelming, even paralyzing.
So I got curious. How does change affect us as humans?
Turns out, our response is universal. It hits us on multiple levels—psychologically, emotionally, and physically.
Uncertainty triggers our fight-or-flight response
Brain overload shifts us from rational thought to survival mode
Emotional chaos turns discomfort into fear
When we’re on shaky ground, the brain flips into react mode. Emotions spike. Clarity drops. Physically, we feel it: faster heartbeat, slower blood flow, less oxygen to the brain. It’s harder to think clearly or regulate stress. We spiral into “I can’t” or “I’m stuck.”
So how do we rethink change?
According to the NeuroLeadership Institute, reframing change as a challenge opens the door to growth. It becomes an opportunity to learn, stretch, and do something new.
“A growth mindset helps us see skills as capable of improvement. It allows us to see gaps in our knowledge as opportunities to learn something new. And when we have a growth mindset, we are therefore more prepared to experience the change moment as a challenge, rather than a threat.” — NeuroLeadership Institute
So what does this mean for you—especially if you’re in the middle of a transition?
Maybe you’re fresh out of school, figuring out what’s next. Maybe you’re mid-career, wondering if the path you’re on still fits. Or maybe you’re returning to work after time away, or launching something entirely new. Wherever you are, change is part of the process.
And it’s not just logistical—it’s emotional. Change stirs up uncertainty, excitement, discomfort, and hope. It asks us to stretch, to rethink, to move forward before we feel fully ready. I remember feeling exactly that way when I decided to leave my job, pursue coaching, and launch P3 Strategies. Every emotion hit—and hit hard. But deep down, I knew I was ready. It took time to get there—from feeling stuck to saying, “I’m ready to take this on.”
Living it, working through it, I understand it now. That shift didn’t happen all at once. But at some point, we have to decide to accept the challenge of change, face it, and move forward.
And how do we do that?
When we approach change with curiosity instead of fear, something opens up. We move from “I’m stuck” to “I’m learning.” That’s the power of a growth mindset. It doesn’t make change easy, but it makes it possible. It helps us see change not as something to survive, but as something to grow through.
Take a Moment to Reflect.
If you’re in the middle of change, take a breath. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You’re allowed to feel uncertain, hopeful, overwhelmed, excited—all of it.
Try asking yourself:
What’s one part of this change I’m curious about?
What do I know about myself that could help me through it?
What would it look like to move forward with just a little more self-trust?
So let’s embrace it. Let’s meet change with open eyes and open hearts. Let’s trust that even in the messy middle, we’re building something new—something that reflects who we are and where we’re ready to go.
