Change, including workplace change, is a way of life, and the end of the trend is nowhere in sight. Adopt the right mindset while experiencing shifting terrain at work, and you'll save yourself a lot of pain, not to mention stress. Here are some worthwhile tips for managing change-related blues.

1. Keep things in perspective. Having your worklife turned topsy-turvy by a reorganization, merger, or a new way of working is difficult, but it's not the end of the world. Remember when you were five, and you didn't get that must-have toy that you desperately wanted for Christmas? Chances are good that you've learned to deal with it, and it no longer consumes you (if not, you might consider therapy!).

2. Stop fighting change. Change can be stimulating and rewarding. Instability is no big deal to optimists — they try to identify the benefit (or lesson, or gift) in every situation. However, those who see the glass as half-empty are bound to be bothered by a fuzzy work role or uncertain future. If you're in an organization that's changing, which most people are these days, you need to learn to go with the flow and ...

3. Choose your focus. Focus on things you can control, such as the quality of your work, your attitude, and whether you choose to continue working for your current organization or search for new opportunities.

4. Keep in mind that you have at least one choice — finding other employment. You always have choices. At any time, you can leave the company for a better opportunity, including temp work if your dream job isn't readily apparent. Risking your health and well-being to cope with a bad work situation simply isn't worth it. If leaving the company isn't an option for you (at least at the moment), list the short-term positives of your situation and ways you can begin to develop other options.

5. Make use of counseling services and workshops. Many companies provide free counseling for individuals who are laid off. If your company does, make use of these resources to figure out how to cope with your situation. If this isn't an option, many hospitals and community centers provide free stress workshops. Public libraries or the internet are other sources of useful information on how to manage stress. And there are a host of resources, from workshops to articles to coaches, who can help you assess the myriad possibilities open to you and begin charting a course toward a more pleasant work climate!

6. Exercise, meditate, find quiet time for yourself. Find time to unwind in a manner that pleases and calms you. Buy yourself flowers or schedule a massage. Set aside quiet time and refuse to let bad thoughts intrude. Engage in a regular meditation and/or prayer practice. Have trouble quieting down and being by yourself? You're not alone! A first good step is to visit our Ivy Sea Online Wisdom and Mastery portal, where you'll find additional articles and a roster of other web resources.

7. Surround yourself with the color violet. Researchers have learned that the color violet is the most restful color. It causes a decrease in blood pressure, and is soothing on the eye (and mind). But don't stop there. Take a look at your environment. Are there any other little touches that would help soothe your mind, body and spirit? Or are there aggravating elements that need balancing (too much red, too much black and white, too much metal, etc.)? Some people find that adding a water fountain, flowers, live plants, colorful prints, and/or aromatherapy, among other things, helps to create a calm, creative, inviting atmosphere.

For additional tips

This material is protected by copyright, and is offered as food-for-thought rather than customized counsel. As always, the most effective strategy is one that's specifically tailored to your unique organizational culture, group personality, and individual needs. Have questions? We welcome your email inquiry.

Conscious communication, inspired leadership, personal-mastery, and big-vision entrepreneurship concepts are shared at length in Big Vision, Small Business, a highly acclaimed book by Jamie S. Walters, as well as in Ivy Sea's organizational transformation and entrepreneurial-consulting services.

Stay on-track and inspired with Ivy Sea's Conscious-Enterprise, Inspired-Leadership and Big-Vision Entrepreneur Consulting Services: Visit About Ivy Sea or give us a call to learn how we can help you: (1) discover how to define your "big-vision small business" or conscious-enterprise principles, (2) clarify and make progress towards your vision, (3) make the most of your individual and organizational strengths, (4) identify ways to "get there from here," (5) rise to greater levels of mastery, success and meaningfulness as an individual, group or organization; and/or (6) benefit from having a "thought and dialogue partner" with whom to discuss ideas, insights, issues, perspectives, and inspiration. How can we help you? We welcome your inquiry.

VIP Member Center: Use Ivy Sea Online skill-building materials for your leadership-development, training, client service, marketing and communication programs: Our VIP Member Center subscription gives you reprint-authorization for Ivy Sea's online library of copyright-protected skill-building materials to use in your training, development, intranet, and communication programs. Your VIP Membership also featuresacess to an additional web library of "VIP-only" articles, tip sheets and issue-papers. Becoming a VIP is as easy as can be! Learn more about our VIP Membership.

• Soothing those frazzled edges