--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Adapting to change, then, means going…" description: "\"“Adapting to change, then, means going through the stress of withdrawal from the old normality and finding relief when a new normality is established.”..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e1/gerald-g-may-33169_adapting_adapting-to-change-then-means-going-thro_286649.jpg" --- # Adapting to change, then, means going through the stress… ![“Adapting to change, then, means going through the stress of withdrawal from the old normality and finding relief when a new normality is established.” quote by Gerald G. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e1/gerald-g-may-33169_adapting_adapting-to-change-then-means-going-thro_286649.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e1/gerald-g-may-33169_adapting_adapting-to-change-then-means-going-thro_286649.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e1/gerald-g-may-33169_adapting_adapting-to-change-then-means-going-thro_286649.jpg) > ““Adapting to change, then, means going through the stress of withdrawal from the old normality and finding relief when a new normality is established.”” [Gerald G. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-g-may/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Changing habits requires letting go of familiar patterns, enduring discomfort, and eventually feeling ease when a new routine settles. **In simple terms:** Leaving old habits is painful but leads to new stability. Key Takeaway Embrace discomfort to reach a new balance. Themes change stress growth Mood reflective hopeful Type advice motivational When to use this quote - career transition - personal habit change - health regimen - relationship dynamics Key Concepts psychology adaptation resilience Questions to Reflect On - What old habit are you resisting? - How can you support yourself during the withdrawal phase? A Different Perspective The new routine may bring different challenges that also cause stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adapting to change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adapting-to-change/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ## Related quotes > [“5. ADAPTABILITY: Spirited children are uncomfortable with change. They hate surprises and do not shift easily from one activity or idea to another. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/5-adaptability-spirited-children-are-uncomfortable-with-change-they/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [Instead of constantly adapting to change, why not change to be adaptive?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-emery/instead-of-constantly-adapting-to-change-why-not-change-to-be-adaptive/) Fred Emery > [Im like a chameleon adapting to change and this crazy world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-like-a-chameleon-adapting-to-change-and-this-crazy-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The talk you hear about adapting to change is not only stupid, it's dangerous. The only way you can manage change is to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-talk-you-hear-about-adapting-to-change-is-not-only-stupid-it-s/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [“The best schedule is one that is adapting to change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/the-best-schedule-is-one-that-is-adapting-to-change/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [In such systems, there is unquestioning respect for authority. Faith trumps evidence. But if indeed this is broadly the explanation for how co-operative behaviour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-may-baron-may-of-oxford/in-such-systems-there-is-unquestioning-respect-for-authority-faith/) Robert May, Baron May of Oxford > [Enjoying success requires the ability to adapt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/enjoying-success-requires-the-ability-to-adapt/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-reasonable-man-adapts-himself-to-the-world-the-unreasonable-one-4/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Adaptability is not imitation. It means power of resistance and assimilation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/adaptability-is-not-imitation-it-means-power-of-resistance-and/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Every success story is a tale of constant adaption, revision and change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/every-success-story-is-a-tale-of-constant-adaption-revision-and-change/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [If you always do what you did, you'll always get what you got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-diamond/if-you-always-do-what-you-did-you-ll-always-get-what-you-got/) Marian Diamond > [In the struggle for survival, the fittest win out at the expense of their rivals because they succeed in adapting themselves best to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/in-the-struggle-for-survival-the-fittest-win-out-at-the-expense-of/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [“Everyone has a way of finding relief. Our outcry is a way of hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-uzih/everyone-has-a-way-of-finding-relief-our-outcry-is-a-way-of-hope/) [Lord Uzih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-uzih/) > [Finding relief in your problem is fine, but it will not cure the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-r-brandt/finding-relief-in-your-problem-is-fine-but-it-will-not-cure-the/) [Henry R Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-r-brandt/) > [“When bored, many people seek excitement and turn to dramatic news headlines. When we feel overly stressed we seek calm, perhaps finding relief in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nir-eyal/when-bored-many-people-seek-excitement-and-turn-to-dramatic-news/) [Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nir-eyal/) ## More by Gerald G. May > [“I do not understand my own behavior; I do not act as I mean to, but I do the things that I hate. Though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-g-may/i-do-not-understand-my-own-behavior-i-do-not-act-as-i-mean-to-but-i/) [Gerald G. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-g-may/) > [“The bare edge of freedom is insured and preserved inside us by God, and no matter what forces oppress us from without or within,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-g-may/the-bare-edge-of-freedom-is-insured-and-preserved-inside-us-by-god/) [Gerald G. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-g-may/) > [“The facts of grace are simple: grace always exists, it is always available, it is always good, and it is always victorious. For me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-g-may/the-facts-of-grace-are-simple-grace-always-exists-it-is-always/) [Gerald G. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-g-may/) > [“Grace empowers us to choose rightly in what seem to be the most choiceless of situations, but it does not, and will not, determine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-g-may/grace-empowers-us-to-choose-rightly-in-what-seem-to-be-the-most/) [Gerald G. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-g-may/) > [“It is the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and most human beings live only for the gratification of it. ARISTOTLE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-g-may/it-is-the-nature-of-desire-not-to-be-satisfied-and-most-human-beings/) [Gerald G. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-g-may/) > [ “I think the greater danger is that those who think they understand the process \[of overcoming our attachments\] are likely to try to make… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-g-may/i-think-the-greater-danger-is-that-those-who-think-they-understand/) [Gerald G. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-g-may/) > [“Perhaps it is not surprising, then, that we do the same with our deepest longings for God. God does not always come to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-g-may/perhaps-it-is-not-surprising-then-that-we-do-the-same-with-our/) [Gerald G. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-g-may/) > [“But they are trials and tests for our own growth, not for God to find out how good we are. God knows that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-g-may/but-they-are-trials-and-tests-for-our-own-growth-not-for-god-to-find/) [Gerald G. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-g-may/) > [“Grace is the most powerful force in the universe. It can transcend repression, addiction, and every other internal or external power that seeks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-g-may/grace-is-the-most-powerful-force-in-the-universe-it-can-transcend/) [Gerald G. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-g-may/) > [“In the great spiritual traditions of the world, attachments are seen as any concerns that usurp our desire for love, anything that becomes more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-g-may/in-the-great-spiritual-traditions-of-the-world-attachments-are-seen/) [Gerald G. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-g-may/) > [“adds a strong imperative to act upon what has happened, a continuing invitation in which the one who is healed is meant to participate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-g-may/adds-a-strong-imperative-to-act-upon-what-has-happened-a-continuing/) [Gerald G. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-g-may/) > [“When my supply of success at this egotistic autonomy ran out, I became depressed. And with the depression, by means of grace, came a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-g-may/when-my-supply-of-success-at-this-egotistic-autonomy-ran-out-i-became/) [Gerald G. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-g-may/) > [“It is a good rule of thumb for spiritual directors to ask themselves, What truly constitutes our spiritual concern here? Am I really being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-g-may/it-is-a-good-rule-of-thumb-for-spiritual-directors-to-ask-themselves/) [Gerald G. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-g-may/) > [“While repression stifles desire, addiction attaches desire, bonds and enslaves the energy of desire to certain specific behaviors, things, or people. These objects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-g-may/while-repression-stifles-desire-addiction-attaches-desire-bonds-and/) [Gerald G. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-g-may/) [Explore all 15 Gerald G. May quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-g-may/) ## More Adapting quotes > [For a struggling filmmaker running low on ideas, public domain is all we have for adapting books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-isaac-chung/for-a-struggling-filmmaker-running-low-on-ideas-public-domain-is-all/) [Lee Isaac Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-isaac-chung/) > [If I can do concert recitals, adapting the repertoire to my needs, then no problem, that's good enough. But with operas, unless the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-carreras/if-i-can-do-concert-recitals-adapting-the-repertoire-to-my-needs-then/) [Jose Carreras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-carreras/) > [Firmino is a player who is really good at adapting to different positions. He is a No. 9, but he helps a lot in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabinho/firmino-is-a-player-who-is-really-good-at-adapting-to-different/) [Fabinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabinho/) > [Martial arts is not about picking your fights and picking how things go; it's about adapting to the how things are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-nelson/martial-arts-is-not-about-picking-your-fights-and-picking-how-things/) [Gunnar Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-nelson/) > [I'm not in the business of adapting things that are popular for the sake of just getting it on the screen. I think there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/i-m-not-in-the-business-of-adapting-things-that-are-popular-for-the/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [I am like the fish in the aquarium, thinking in a different language, adapting to a life that’s not my natural habitat. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-am-like-the-fish-in-the-aquarium-thinking-in-a-different-language/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I'm always a big advocate for adapting to your new team, your new country and your new team-mates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/i-m-always-a-big-advocate-for-adapting-to-your-new-team-your-new/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [Cinema reflects culture and there is no harm in adapting technology, but not at the cost of losing your originality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/cinema-reflects-culture-and-there-is-no-harm-in-adapting-technology/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [The fact that I made a special movie with an old-fashioned style - even if it's a mix between with modern and old-fashioned things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/the-fact-that-i-made-a-special-movie-with-an-old-fashioned-style-even/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [I believe in having a few pupils at one time as it requires a constant alert observation of each individual in order to establish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/i-believe-in-having-a-few-pupils-at-one-time-as-it-requires-a/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The brain is constantly adapting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-brain-is-constantly-adapting/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [One of the most difficult things for people who have been successful in sports is adapting to the daily world where you can't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-spitz/one-of-the-most-difficult-things-for-people-who-have-been-successful/) [Mark Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-spitz/) > [“(T)his is precisely the importance of the world-view described in the Book of Changes: there is no situation without a way out. All situations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-and-hellmut-wilhelm/t-his-is-precisely-the-importance-of-the-world-view-described-in-the/) Richard and Hellmut Wilhelm > [Man is a shrewd inventor, and is ever taking the hint of a new machine from his own structure, adapting some secret of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/man-is-a-shrewd-inventor-and-is-ever-taking-the-hint-of-a-new-machine/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Sport is not about being wrapped up in cotton wool. Sport as about adapting to the unexpected and being able to modify plans at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/sport-is-not-about-being-wrapped-up-in-cotton-wool-sport-as-about/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) Browse all 251 Adapting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Adapting to change, then, means going through the stress of withdrawal from the old normality and finding relief when a new normality is established.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gerald G. 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