Why is change hard, even for a positive reason?

[Buzz Rules]

Why is change hard, even for a positive reason? I’ve been pondering on this philosophical thought for the past couple of days.

 

[Carol_]

We’re here for you when you want to give up soccer for the NFL, Buzz.

 

[CdnCarrie]

We're creatures of habit.

 

[fla4fun]

I think it’s because we get comfortable with a particular routine. It doesn’t require much thought, and because we know it so well, it feels like we have a measure of control. When something changes, there are so many “what if” scenarios and so many possible outcomes. We have to pay close attention to details, and if we don’t, we could be hurt, or humiliated, or inconvenienced. Once we get into the new routine, then the change no longer matters . . . Until it’s time for the next one.

 

[xipotec]

Me I love change. its the boring same ol same ol I cannot abide.

My dad once said, “The only thing you can count on to remain the same is change.”

 

[Buzz Rules]

We’re here for you when you want to give up soccer for the NFL, Buzz.

I’m already a fan of NFL, EPL, MLS, MLB, NBA, and NHL.

 

[slo]

Why is change hard, even for a positive reason? I’ve been pondering on this philosophical thought for the past couple of days.

I’m a creature of habit so change is always tough for me. I’ll do it with a smile, but inside I’m like - LOL!!

ETA….I think the answer to your question is that same is easy and change takes work. I’m not a lazy person at all, but sometimes it’s hard to get out of my comfort zone to change things, but I do always do it and then when I’m done, I’m glad I did it.

 

[adkkev]

Change is hard because we often don’t want to step out of our comfort zone.

 

[DLgal]

Change is an unknown. It provokes a primitive fear response.

 

[prairie_girl]

I will admit, I don’t like change. I’ll do it, if needed, but I like my little life the way it is.

For me, it’s because with my disease, so much is out of my control, that I like the reassurance of everything else staying the same.

 

[seven dwarfs]

I think it is a safe space to not change. Change can be scary and not go well, so people choose the safety instead. Which, now that I have typed this out isn't always true. I'm a safe space kinda person. If I had a crystal ball then maybe......

 

[_19disnA]

As it relates to examples where I work, over the years have had several new bosses who come into the job and want to change everything around to make a big splash to impress their boss and expect instant results. Typically they are proposing things we have already tried in the past (perhaps multiple times) that were never successful. They then accuse people of being 'resistant to change' or not willing to go outside of their 'comfort zone' as a way to cover up the fact their ideas are just not workable or poorly thought out.

 

[mrodgers]

Sometimes we see change as not being a good thing so we resist the change even though other people tell us the change needs to be for various reasons that may or may not be true.

 

[Colleen27]

In the habits/lifestyle sense, there are heaps of studies in neuroscience that do a lot to explain it. Our brains seek efficiency by leaning hard into routines and repetition, rather than reasoning out every task and decision individually. And it is hard to rewrite those routines, especially if they've been reinforced over long periods of time. So change in the sense of eating healthier or watching less TV or all those other small things so many people resolve to change about themselves this time of year is never as simple as it seems like it should be on the surface.

Our brains also tend to overestimate unknown/uncommon risks while underestimating routine ones - we worry more about kidnappings and school shootings than fatal car accidents, for example - which makes changing big-picture elements of our lives like jobs, houses, or marital status daunting as well.

 

[ronandannette]

I will admit, I don’t like change. I’ll do it, if needed, but I like my little life the way it is.

For me, it’s because with my disease, so much is out of my control, that I like the reassurance of everything else staying the same.

You don't have it easy, and I can understand that rationale. For me, it's more of having learned to cope with "the devil I know", as well as having had many, many unpleasant changes thrust upon me over the years. Come what may, I know I can handle it, but that doesn't make the transition period any more welcome. Lots of people call me a pessimist, which I guess I do appear on the surface. I'm actually much deeper (and more stable) than that. I just NEED to process the worst-case scenarios in order to feel safe.

 

[NiceBlue]

Buzz, an intriguing question and the replies of many commenters are on the mark, basically saying it is habit or it takes effort to change. Colleen27’s comment was particularly interesting to me as she mentioned studies. My take on it is not individual change, but social or cultural change. Gallup has done polls as to who people would be willing to vote for, for president going back to 1937. In 1937 only 33% said they would be willing to vote for a woman for president and 64% said they would not. Also, in 1937 only 46% said they would be willing to vote for a Jew while 47% said they would not and in 1958 only 37% said they would be willing to vote for a Black and 53% said they would not. Those percentages have changed so that in 1999 92% would vote for a woman, while 7% would not, 92% would vote for a Jew while 6% would not and 95% would vote for a Black and 4% would not. Then in 2016 Hillary Clinton won the popular vote for president, but lost the electoral vote, Joseph Lieberman, an orthodox Jew, ran for vice president on the ticket which won the popular vote, but lost the electoral vote and in 2008 and 2012 Barack Obama won the presidency. So, why did these feelings about voting for president change and why did it take so long? Well, people can change their minds, but as others wrote, habit or it taking effort to change could inhibit that and as Colleen wrote, “Our brains seek efficiency by leaning hard into routines and repetition, rather than reasoning out every task and decision individually. And it is hard to rewrite those routines, especially if they've been reinforced over long periods of time.” And “Our brains also tend to overestimate unknown/uncommon risks while underestimating routine ones. . . ” Thanks Colleen. Perhaps the primary reason these feelings have changed is that people die and the population is renewed with the young who have not been as exposed to the older ideas and bias.

But still the 118 congress is mostly male 72% to 50% for the nation, mostly non-hispanic white 75% to 59% for the nation and mostly Christian 88% to 63% for the nation.

Tom,

 

[1420Elexismc]

I have a lot of "quirks" and like things to be in neat little boxes. I can absolutely "fake it till I make it" when presented with a change, but internally pterodactyl scream the whole time until I can get a chance to recharge afterwards lol

 

[Moliphino]

Change is scary and hard.
I was getting a little panicky about bringing home a new puppy last month. I very much wanted another dog and was excited about getting her, too, but the ways it was also going to change and disrupt all of my routines was a little overwhelming at times (the puppy-phase lack of sleep and housetraining stresses are no joke).

 

[tvguy]

Change is difficult because it is often framed as an "improvement", and it rarely is.

 

[China Expat]

I love change! The more the merrier!