The good in emotional reactions - embrace change resistance

Photo by Go Montgenevre

Change is a natural rhythm of life—an unfolding process we all navigate in our own way. Yet, when people express their natural reactions to change, we often label them as “resistance.” That word carries weight, a judgment that feels unjustified when we pause to truly listen.

Reflecting on change management, I notice how quickly the conversation shifts to “resistance.” Almost automatic resistance is a problem to be solved, a barrier to overcome. But what if this framing misses something deeper? What if resistance isn’t a stubborn refusal but a signal, a story waiting to be understood?

In workshops and trainings, I invite participants to ponder: Where does this so-called resistance come from? The answers often point to emotions, uncertainty, and discomfort. And that’s true. But rarely do we explore the gift wrapped inside those emotions: they reveal that people care and that something meaningful is at stake.

Comfort zone as comfortable habitat

Think about your routines-how much of what you do each day flows without conscious effort? Research tells us that up to 95% of our behavior is habitual and automatic. This is a blessing. Without it, every moment would demand exhausting attention.

Last winter, I experienced this firsthand while snowboarding. After days of effortless descent, I took private lessons requiring me to rethink my technique consciously. Suddenly, the slopes felt unfamiliar, my confidence wavered, and I was acutely aware of stepping out of my comfort zone.

Our comfort zone is exactly that-comforting. It’s a safe space where predictability reigns. Naturally, we cling to it. Yet, this comfort must be gently unsettled when we seek profound change in organizations.

When Comfort Is Challenged, Survival Instincts Awaken

Pushing against the comfort zone triggers something ancient within us: survival instincts. Fight, flight, or freeze- these primal responses surface when our sense of safety feels threatened. In organizational settings, this often gets labeled as “resistance to change,” “digging in heels,” or “not taking responsibility.” But these are not flaws; they are survival strategies honed over millennia.

The perceived threat isn’t just the change itself-it’s the challenge to the familiar world we’ve built and rely on. The real question then becomes: who is challenging this comfort zone?

Shifting the Perspective: From Blame to Curiosity

The journey to understanding resistance begins not with those who react emotionally but with those who initiate change, step into the unknown, and unsettle the familiar. They are the ones who call out “resistance,” yet they also hold the key to inviting others along.

What if, instead of seeing resistance as opposition, we saw it as an invitation to slow down, to listen, to engage with what truly matters to people? What if our role was not to break through resistance but to explore it with empathy and curiosity?

In this shared exploration, change becomes less about forcing a new reality and more about co-creating a future where people feel seen, heard, and valued. And that, I believe, is where profound change starts.

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