SURVIVE ANYWHERE; NOT A MYTH.
Tips To The Great Outdoor…
“Nothing is as painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change”.
Mary Shelly, Frankenstein
Without change, there’d be no improvements. The evidence that a man is growing are the noticeable changes both in His mental and physical state. Growth involves change. This means, in our everyday life change is inevitable. The day a man stops changing, that’s when He ceases to grow and stop being a living soul. A Greek philosopher named Heraclitus once said, “change is the only constant in life”. However, change although constant is still normal and it is something we must perpetually prepare for and look ahead to. Being anxious about change is also a normal thing. Particularly when change comes unexpectedly and everything that you are used to becomes different. It’s like changing school, working in a new office or changing locations. It may feel strange sometimes but it’s still tolerable. Change arouses an innate pressure reaction from us. It’s not something you can protest, but it is something you can work with. Here are 5 Tips to survive anywhere, especially in a new environment.
1. BE OPEN TO CHANGES AROUND YOU.
It’s a given that the subsequent environment you’ll discover yourself in will be different from where you are coming from. You will encounter people who are different from those you’re familiar with. You’ll meet numerous people with different backgrounds, beliefs, perspectives and opinions. You need to be more open-minded to embrace and flow with this society. If you hold onto an idea of how things should be and do not have an open mind that things could be different, you are very probable to be highly disturbed when things change. Just as Carl Rogers says, “when we hold on tightly to our ideas of how things should be, we refuse to open up our minds that things could change”. As a result, we are highly conflicted when change happens since we hold so high and even become defensive of possible changes.
“Don’t see changes around you as a problem, otherwise, it’ll present itself as such”.
Oyeladun Peace Idowu
Don’t see changes around you as a problem, otherwise, it’ll present itself as such. There are lots of opportunities out there and new experiences to add to your book of experience. Nevertheless, these experiences won’t come to you by default, they’ll only come when you open your mind to embrace them. You must understand that there is more than your world and that being different is good. Therefore, opening up your minds that things could change makes you more adaptive and open to change.
2. SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE.
They say opportunity comes to those who seek it. Meeting someone new opens up chances for new possibilities. Just like I said afore, these people are those with different backgrounds, beliefs, perspectives and opinions which are different from yours. Their level of knowledge and orientation is different from yours. Therefore, relating with these people will serve as an added advantage for you because it offers you the opportunity to learn from them. Networking with anyone, anywhere is so much possible in this age of technology. All you need to do is have a little bit of composure to reach out to someone new. By putting yourself out there, you’re immediately unlocking doors to career prospects and several opportunities. Being brave enough to communicate with someone new will open up new business connections and you will learn something unusual. And the more people you meet, the stronger your confidence grows in reaching out to more people.
3. GET INVOLVED IN THINGS HAPPENING AROUND YOU.
Always try as much as possible to attend events happening around you. It can be a get-together from your office, students hangout, volunteer activity, worship centre, birthday party and wedding you’re invited to, or even conferences. These are platforms where you can easily build relationships with people. It gives you the chance to engage people in a conversation, make new friends and get to know others that have the same interests as yourself. Although, you don’t need to attend every, however, do not isolate yourself. Develop interest in things around you and get involved in them. This can be a considerable introduction to a happy life.
“You don’t have to be too hard to talk with. Always appear as friendly and approachable as you can be. Don’t be too rigid, be flexible and open-minded”.
Oyeladun Peace Idowu
Also, you don’t have to be too hard to talk with. Always appear as friendly and approachable as you can be. Don’t be too rigid, be flexible and open-minded. Let go of that arrogance (or let’s say that willingness) of not wanting to talk to people. Similarly, the fear of not knowing how to start a conversation or how to keep it going might want to keep you down from talking to people. I know how this thing can feel, nevertheless, you don’t necessarily have to have the most fascinating topic of discussion at that moment, you can just start with the basics. Comment on their dressing and anything relatable happening in the event or around you.
4. DON’T FEEL INTIMIDATED; BE YOURSELF.
Adjusting to a new environment for some people might not be as easy as it can be for other people. Some might even struggle for days, weeks or even months before blending with His/her society. I could remember when I first came into college, it was my first time in a student environment with different groups and kinds of people. I had to struggle with the feelings of fitting into other people’s standards, presenting myself in such a way that I’ll be liked by them easily and a way that they’ll want to link with me. Whereas in-between those struggles, I started losing consciousness of who I am and what I want, and I started paying more attention to how I can satisfy other people. Along the line, I lost the sense of me within me, and another me was playing out. I started acting inferior. You see, If people don’t like you for who you are, they can’t ever like you for who you’re not. Putting on a disguise to equate with people will sooner or later come back to hurt you.
“If people don’t like you for who you are, they can’t ever like you for who you’re not. Putting on a disguise to equate with people will sooner or later come back to hurt you”.
Oyeladun Peace Idowu
So stay true to yourself because you attract what you represent. Whether you like it or not, people appreciate and relate well with people who are more real to themselves than camouflaged human beings. Do not lose courage or confidence in yourself. Anywhere you find yourself, the only way you’ll function better there is by being yourself, otherwise, you’ll be inhibited.
5. INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THOSE YOU MEET WITH ON A DAILY
You don’t have to know those around you whether your neighbours, colleagues at work or course-mates all at once. Just select some random few and make an effort to unite with them. Always make the first move of saying “HI” to them with a smile on your face after which you’ll introduce yourself to the person. By doing that, you’ve given an impression that you’re a friendly person and that opens up opportunities for future conversations. You don’t have to be stiff or try to sound in a certain way. Don’t be too difficult on yourself when it comes to leaving an impression on someone you just met. Be as natural as possible. Don’t come out too chatty. Keep the long chat for later. You still have enough time to spend together and have a long chat.
SUMMARY
“When you live in complete acceptance of what is, that is the end of all drama in your life”
Eckhart Tolle
Don’t be tied to your former environment too much that it’ll influence your effectiveness in your new environment. Remember, you can’t avoid the unexpected, but you can control how it affects you. The ball is in your court. The decision you make in your new environment will determine what the next 1 or 2years will look like there for you. I’d love you to decide to survive there. Don’t hold back when seeking out friendships and relationships, because one person can change everything in your life for the better. Be open to changes around you, do not isolate, introduce yourself to people you meet with on a daily. Because newly establish connections can be the ticket to improving existence.
