Overcoming Anxiety through Adaptability
In the fast-paced world we live in, uncertainty seems to be a constant companion. Whether it’s changes in our personal lives, relationships, shifting career and political landscapes, or unexpected global events, our own ability to adapt becomes essential for us to mentally and physically navigate the tumultuous seasons of life. However, adaptability is not just a survival skill; it can also be a powerful tool for overcoming anxiety.
Anxiety often thrives on insecurity, the fear of the unknown, and the perceived lack of control over our circumstances. When we feel unsure of who we are or are trapped in rigid expectations or routines, deviations from the norm can trigger anxiety. But what if we could train ourselves to embrace change rather than fear it? This is where our ability and willingness to adapt come into play.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
🧠 Adaptability is Essential in Life:
In a fast-paced world, adaptability is essential for navigating uncertainties, both mentally and physically. Learning to embrace change is not just a survival skill but also a powerful tool for overcoming anxiety.
💡 The Link Between Adaptability and Anxiety:
Anxiety often stems from our resistance to change and our desire for control. Cultivating a spirit of adaptability involves letting go of this need for control and embracing uncertainty as an opportunity to adapt, grow, and learn.
🔗 Biblical Perspectives
The Bible teaches the importance of trusting in God's plan, being flexible, and maintaining resilience in trials. These principles of adaptability can help us navigate life's challenges with grace and faith. See Proverbs 3:5-6, Mark 10:45, James 1:2-4.
✍🏼 Practical Strategies
To cultivate adaptability, practice mindfulness, embrace challenges, stay open, develop coping strategies, and learn from setbacks. Daily journaling can be a helpful tool for putting these practices into action.
🇳🇱 Learn from Example
Corrie ten Boom's story serves as a powerful example of adaptability in the face of adversity. Corrie adapted to her situation through her trust in God, overcame truly unimaginable circumstances, and inspired others to do the same.
🌿 The Benefits of Adaptability
As we become more adaptable, we reduce anxiety levels, strengthen our character, become more service-oriented, and open ourselves up to new opportunities and possibilities. Embracing change allows us to grow and see God at work in our lives.
✈️ 3 Ways Travel Makes You More Adaptable
Travel fuels our adaptability by immersing us in diverse cultures and environments, challenging our perspectives and problem-solving skills. Through unpredictable experiences, we learn flexibility and resilience that shape our ability to thrive in our every-day, every-changing world.
Understanding Adaptability
At its core, adaptability is about being flexible and resilient in the face of change.
It’s about recognizing that life is unpredictable and that our ability to not only survive, but thrive depends on our capacity to adjust and grow. While some may not naturally possess a greater inclination towards adaptability, it is a skill that can be learned and honed over time.
The Connection Between Adaptability and Anxiety
Anxiety often arises from our own inner resistance to change. We become fixated on our inner world and need for a sense of stability and control. Our resistance only tends to amplify our anxiety, as we desperately cling to the familiar and fear the unknown.
By cultivating our ability to be adaptable, we learn to let go of our need for control, instead surrendering our will to what God has for us each day. We become more comfortable with uncertainty, viewing it not as a threat but as an opportunity for growth and leaning into a trusting relationship with the Father. Rather than viewing change or the unknown as a source of anxiety, we see it as a natural part of life—an opportunity to learn, trust, grow, and discover new possibilities outside of our own ways of thinking.
What the Bible Says about Adaptability
Trust in God's Plan: The Bible teaches the importance of trusting in God's plan, even when circumstances seem uncertain or difficult. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
→ This verse encourages us to rely on God's guidance and wisdom, recognizing that His plans may differ from our own, but they are ultimately for our good.Flexibility in Serving Others: Jesus Christ exemplified adaptability in His ministry by meeting people where they were and adapting His approach to their needs. In Mark 10:45, Jesus says, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
→ This verse emphasizes the importance of selflessly serving others and being willing to adapt our methods to effectively meet their needs.Resilience in Trials: The Bible teaches the importance of resilience in the face of trials and challenges. James 1:2-4 says, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
→ This passage encourages us to embrace trials as opportunities for growth and to remain steadfast in their faith, knowing that endurance leads to maturity and wholeness.
How to Cultivate Adaptability
Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness involves staying present in the moment without judgment. By cultivating mindfulness, we learn to be present and accept things as they are in the moment, rather than getting caught up in worries about the future or regrets about the past.
We can also recognize intrusive and anxious thoughts and disassociate from them by putting them in their place. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NLT) says to capture “rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” We do this by being mindful of our thought life.Embrace Challenges: Instead of shying away from challenges in your life, view them as opportunities for intentional growth instead. Challenge grows our character and provides a chance to test and strengthen our adaptability and resilience.
”Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” Helen KellerStay Open-Minded: Often we have in our mind how we believe circumstances should be or people should behave. News flash: you don’t run the world… but you do run your mind, will, and emotions, so learn to manage them well before trying to manage anything or anyone else. Approach situations with an open (but discerning) mind and a willingness to learn instead of placing your own expectations of how events should unfold or persons should respond. This allows us to move in a spirit of adaptability and grace, rather than fear and judgement.
Develop Coping Strategies: Identify healthy coping strategies that help you manage stress and anxiety. What works for someone else may or may not work for you. Keep trying until you find what works for you. This could include techniques such as deep breathing exercises, prayer, speaking affirmations, meditation, journaling, or seeking support from friends and loved ones.
Learn from Setbacks: Setbacks are inevitable, but they also offer valuable lessons. Instead of dwelling on a perceived failure, reframe it as an opportunity to reflect, learn, and adjust your approach moving forward.
I highly recommend daily journaling as a way to put some of these practices in action.
Learn from Example: Corrie ten Boom's Adaptability in the Face of Anxiety
Corrie ten Boom's story serves as a poignant example of adaptability in the face of unimaginable adversity.
Born in the Netherlands in 1892, Corrie was a watchmaker by trade and a devout Christian. During World War II, Corrie and her family courageously sheltered Jews, hiding them from the Nazis in a secret compartment in their home.
Can you imagine? She had every reason to be anxious — from already not knowing what would happen each day due to the war to then be taking in and sheltering those who were being hunted by the Nazis in her own home.
In 1944, the ten Boom family was betrayed and arrested by the Gestapo. Corrie and her sister Betsie were sent to Ravensbrück, a notorious Nazi concentration camp. In the midst of unspeakable suffering and brutality, Corrie clung to her faith and her unwavering belief in the power of love and forgiveness.
Despite her experience, Corrie's adaptability and resilience shone through. She found solace in her faith, leading secret Bible studies and sharing messages of hope with her fellow prisoners. To think, she used the worst case scenario as an opportunity to share the love of God. In the darkest of times, Corrie remained steadfast in her belief that love was stronger than hate and that forgiveness was the ultimate act of triumphing over evil.
By being adaptability rather than letting anxiety take hold, Corrie not only survived the horrors of Ravensbrück but emerged from the experience with a renewed sense of purpose.
After miraculously surviving the concentration camp, Corrie then notoriously dedicated her life to spreading the message of forgiveness and reconciliation. She traveled the world, sharing her story of hope and resilience, inspiring countless individuals to embrace God and personally exemplified how adaptability can overcome anxiety and adversity.
Recommended reading of Corrie’s Life:
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
Corrie Ten Boom: Keeper of the Angels Den
The Benefits of Adaptability
As we become more adaptable, trusting God more, embracing the unknown, and worrying less, we will not only find our anxiety levels reduced but we will also unlock other opportunities for the Holy Spirit to strengthen our character.
We become more flexible, better equipped to navigate challenges with grace and resilience. We become more service-oriented, focusing on others’ needs rather than our own internal world. We also become more creative and innovative, as our willingness to embrace change opens doors to new opportunities and possibilities, allowing us to better see God at work.
3 Ways Travel Makes Us More Adaptable
Travel has a remarkable way of fostering adaptability as we immerse ourselves in unfamiliar environments, cultures, and situations.
1️⃣ Encountering diverse cultures challenges our preconceptions and broadens our perspectives. It forces us to adapt our mindset and behaviors to new social and cultural norms and customs.
2️⃣ Navigating through foreign landscapes and languages sharpens our problem-solving skills as we learn to overcome obstacles and communicate effectively in diverse settings.
3️⃣ Travel often involves unexpected changes and disruptions. From missed flights to spontaneous adventures, travel tests our willingness to be flexible and resilient in uncertainty. Through these experiences, travel cultivates adaptability by equipping us with both the mindset and skills needed to thrive that we can implement into every day life in an ever-changing world.
I thought this photo from my travels to Malaysia was spot on for this topic. Finding stillness in the chaos = adaptability.
I’ve experienced opportunities to adapt over and over on my travels around the world. When I went on an 11-month trip to 11 different countries. I surrendered my time, my travel, my meals, my relationships over to what God had in front of me. Each day was different.
From door-to-door evangelism to construction to working with orphans, no two days looked the same and I had absolutely no control over what came next. Even my lodging and food looked different week-to-week. Nothing sharpens your adaptability than going from camping in a tent in a remote village in Cambodia to sharing a triple level bunk bed in a closet room in Uganda the next.
Final Thoughts:
In a world that is constantly in flux, training ourselves to be adaptable is not just a skill worth cultivating, it’s one worth prioritizing for those who follow Jesus. By learning to embrace change and challenges rather than fear them, we can reduce our anxiety levels, truly placing our trust in the Lord and opening ourselves up to a world full of growth and possibility.
Our adaptability and peace of mind allow us to be a light in a world that seems to be becoming increasingly more anxious. So let’s resolve to intentionally welcome adaptability as a mindset to become more like Jesus.