Coping with change

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Note from Avi: The lifestyle and career of a Creator is a volatile one - and it's always been. Even before the TikTok ban, the Creator Economy has coped with adpocalypses, algorithm changes, and even the rise and fall of other platforms - and yet, Creators have endured.

But how?

Today I invited a friend, Seth Pitman, PhD, ABPP to provide a playbook on how to cope with change. Seth is a board-certified psychologist, psychoanalyst, and consultant who coaches Creators and executives to help them navigate complex business challenges with clarity, insight, and purpose.

If you find his guide to Coping with Change valuable, and are interested in his coaching services, reach out directly for a free 30-minute consult: [email protected].

In content creation, as in life, change is the only constant. Whether it’s shifting algorithms, platform policies, or audience behavior, Creators must embrace uncertainty as an expectable part of the process. The ability to cope with, and adapt to, these changes is crucial for navigating career setbacks and the ongoing unpredictability of life on the screen.

Embracing Change for Growth

Creators are often urged to be “resilient” due to the unpredictable and demanding nature of their work, much of which is done independently. This expectation can intensify feelings of isolation, especially when there is no clear roadmap for how to get there.

Consider those who’ve lost everything in the L.A. fires. How does one recover from such profound loss? Terms like “coping” or “resilience” can never fully capture the strength required to move forward, particularly in the face of overwhelming grief.

As both a former professional musician and clinical psychologist who has extensive experience working with young adults, I’ve seen how the ability to cope with unpredictability and unwanted change can be developed and applied to life’s toughest challenges.

Effective coping requires nourishing the strongest parts of ourselves, often with the help of a supportive network. Through my work with Creators, I’ve found that while the pressures they face are unique, there are sustainable ways to navigate them.

What follows are the principles I’ve learned through both clinical practice and direct experience with Creators. With a little creativity and planning, these principles can be applied to your unique situation.

1. Confront Reality

Unwanted change, whether personal or professional, often triggers feelings of instability and anxiety because it challenges our sense of security. In these moments, our minds may resort to automatic protective reactions like denial to shield us from fear.

The first step in coping effectively is recognizing these reactions. Becoming more aware of them can allow us to shift toward a more adaptive response, in which we acknowledge what has occurred and can begin to find new sources of stability and emotional grounding.

2. Accept (and Mourn) What Has Been Lost

Meaningful loss creates a psychological rupture within us. On a deep level, we feel something important and dependable has been taken away. This often leads to emotions like anger, confusion, and frustration, with sadness typically lying underneath.

Taking time to grieve is crucial for healing and recovery because it helps us integrate the loss into our sense of self and enables emotional growth.

3. Lean on Your Network

While exercise, journaling, and meditation are valuable self-care tools, what we need most when dealing with loss and grief is the support of others. Talking to trusted relationships —whether friends, mentors, colleagues, or a therapist — is essential for emotional regulation, which in turn allows us to access the more competent parts of our minds.

Strengthening existing connections or forming new ones helps restores a sense of safety, which we need in order to navigate life’s uncertainties with confidence.

4. Remember the Skills and Strengths You Already Possess

Once we feel grounded in our support system, we’re better able to recall the internal strengths we’ve developed through positive past experiences and relationships. This is because we already possess a wealth of knowledge within us, including insights into what has worked and what hasn’t.

Accessing supportive relationships in the present helps activate these adaptive internal resources, guiding how we face challenges and allowing us to tap into our sense of competence and flexibility.

5. Flourish in Uncertainty

It’s a psychological reality that people who are securely attached to others are better equipped to handle uncertainty and ambiguity. Those who can embrace uncertainty are able to explore new possibilities with confidence. Thankfully, it’s possible to strengthen both the quality of our connections and our comfort with uncertainty throughout life.

Creators — and anyone navigating unwanted change — can use setbacks to practice viewing the unknown not as a threat, but as an opportunity for growth and chance to build new bridges. Responding to disruptions as a chance for learning and reinvention will inevitably open new pathways for personal and professional fulfillment.

And when all else fails, remember this: You are a Creator, which means disruption is in your DNA. The most powerful tool you have is your story, which is always deepening as you evolve and grow. Although frightening at first, unwanted change means a new chapter is beginning.

Important links for you

• Go from making content to making money - Learn more about The $100k Creators Club

• Get well-priced, corporate-quality health insurance from essentL Creator (I’m an advisor)

• If you’re new here and liked this, subscribe to Creator Logic

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Written by Avi Gandhi, edited by Melody Song,
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