Starting over can be a daunting task, whether it's at the beginning of a new year or during life's inevitable upheavals. For Dana Silver, change has been a constant since she moved to Arcadia Children's Home at the age of five. After growing up in an unstable environment and losing her mother, Silver says she learned to adapt. She credits Arcadia with providing her with stability, structure, and opportunity when she needed it most.
Despite the support, Silver faced multiple challenges, including failing all her subjects in matric and struggling with academic confidence. However, everything changed when a family opened their home to her and her sister, providing a different kind of stability and support. Within three months, Silver went from failing to passing matric with distinctions. This experience showed her the power of believing in oneself and having someone believe in her.
Now in her early 20s and building a corporate career, Silver says she can't separate who she is today from those tough but formative experiences. She believes that those experiences taught her to see challenges as opportunities to adapt, work hard, and keep moving forward. Silver's story is a testament to the human spirit's ability to persevere and thrive in the face of adversity.
For some people, starting over is a deliberate choice. After a painful breakup and two unexpected deaths in his family, Zack Cohen knew he needed a fresh start. He applied for a marine construction job in the Gulf and received an employment letter the next day. Within weeks, he was flying out to a new life. This sudden change proved to be exactly what he needed, allowing him to work with people from around the world and travel the globe.
However, Cohen's new life was not without its challenges. After two years, his company was forced to retrench staff due to global economic upheaval, and he found himself on a plane back to South Africa. Despite the shock, Cohen was glad to be going home to his family and friends. He reflects that the experience helped him gain confidence and independence, as well as a broader perspective on the world.
Counselling psychologist Lisa Hirschowitz says that change can be a painful way of establishing one's identity. When there is change, people often feel temporarily incompetent or struggle with a shifting sense of who they are. However, adaptability is a key indicator of resilience, long-term well-being, and personal success. Hirschowitz advises that going through significant change requires grieving what was, while still being excited by what's to come.
Hirschowitz also suggests that understanding mixed feelings can coexist about the same situation is vital. Transitions have three phases: the ending, the transition period, and the new beginning. She advises giving oneself time to adapt and adjust, and getting support from others, whether it be from a friend, someone who's been through something similar, or a psychologist.
Key points
- Change can be a chance to create a new life and discover one's true potential.
- Adaptability is a key indicator of resilience, long-term well-being, and personal success.
- Starting over can be a daunting task, but it can also be a transformative experience.
