The Keys to Conquering Change

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (7/06) When faced with a change, most of us are fearful. Joanne Sujansky and John Van Sprang teach us how to embrace change in their book "The Keys to Conquering Change." Change is not something to be feared, and should be looked at as an opportunity; sometimes it's a challenge. Change is an opening to new experiences. Joanne and John teach using short stories of people who have successfully faced the battle of change and became stronger because of it. The stories included people that have faced career changes, divorce, adjustments in marriage or friends, leaving an abusive situation, and returning to school. At the end of each section are questions to reinforce the points stressed in that chapter. We are all faced with change at some point in our lives. When our children leave home we are faced with a shift in roles. No longer are we nurturing little ones. Will our marriages become stronger at this point or will we look across the table and see a stranger? Our company closes and we lose a job. Will we be destroyed by the loss of income or will we consider it an open door to new opportunities? A marriage ends. Will we consider ourselves a failure or will go on with our lives? The decision is up to each individual whether they will embrace the future or mourn the past. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has a message for each of us, for we all will face change in the future. I recommend this book to everyone. You may think you have no need of a book on change, but someday you will face a life-changing situation and you and you alone will be the one that decides whether it is an opportunity or tragedy.