The video explores the often negative feelings associated with change and advocates reframing it as evolution, emphasizing growth and movement instead of resistance. Drawing upon a meaningful quote from Arthur Ashe, the speaker presents a practical, grounded approach to coping with change by starting where you are, using available resources, and taking manageable actions. This philosophy is further illustrated by her personal tradition of living by three carefully chosen words each year—grace, joy, and faith—each supporting a healthy and resilient mindset.

Listeners are drawn in by the speaker's candid, relatable experiences with change and her strategies for maintaining balance, optimism, and humor despite life's uncertainties. By encouraging viewers to seek joy in everyday life, embrace grace for themselves and others, and build faith in their communities, the speaker delivers powerful tools for managing the discomfort of change. She also highlights the importance of support systems, from trusted confidantes to those who inject levity into stressful situations, and underscores the value of adapting one's perspective—the realist's adjustment—instead of simply hoping for or complaining about shifts in life.

Main takeaways from the video:

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Embracing change as evolution can transform a reactive mindset into one of growth
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Identifying and living by meaningful guiding words (such as grace, joy, and faith) fosters resilience and purpose
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Cultivating supportive relationships and humor makes navigating change less daunting
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Adjusting your approach—rather than resisting or merely hoping for improvement—leads to healthier adaptation
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A conscious focus on positivity and self-compassion helps counteract negativity during transitions
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Key Vocabularies and Common Phrases:

1. evolution [ˌɛvəˈluːʃən] - (noun) - Gradual development or growth, particularly from a simple to a more complex form. - Synonyms: (development, progression, transformation)

I suggest we change what that word is, and we use evolution. evolution is movement. It's growth.

2. embrace [ɛmˈbreɪs] - (verb) - To willingly and enthusiastically accept something new, such as an idea or change. - Synonyms: (accept, welcome, adopt)

Don't just walk away from it. embrace the joy.

3. navigate [ˈnævəˌgeɪt] - (verb) - To find a way to deal with or manage a difficult situation. - Synonyms: (manage, steer, handle)

The other thing is find your people as you navigate change.

4. pessimist [ˈpɛsɪmɪst] - (noun) - Someone who tends to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen. - Synonyms: (cynic, defeatist, skeptic)

A pessimist complains about the wind, so I don't complain about the weather anymore.

5. optimist [ˈɑːptɪmɪst] - (noun) - Someone who tends to be hopeful and confident about the future or the successful outcome of something. - Synonyms: (idealist, enthusiast, positive thinker)

An optimist expects it to change.

6. realist [ˈriːəlɪst] - (noun) - A person who accepts a situation as it is and is prepared to deal with it accordingly. - Synonyms: (pragmatist, practical person, fact-finder)

A realist adjusts the sale. Let's all adjust our sales and evolve into a better you.

7. overachiever [ˌoʊvərəˈtʃiːvər] - (noun) - A person who performs better or achieves more success than expected. - Synonyms: (go-getter, high-flyer, achiever)

I apply that every day because I am an overachiever. I take on more than I should.

8. resources [rɪˈsɔːrsɪz] - (noun) - Assets or materials, including people, finances, and time, that can be used for a purpose. - Synonyms: (assets, means, supplies)

Use what you have. It can be resources. It can be people.

9. grace [ɡreɪs] - (noun) - Politeness, kindness, or a willingness to forgive—often during difficult situations or to oneself. - Synonyms: (kindness, compassion, mercy)

I give myself grace. grace to not always know the answer, to be frustrated, to be worried, to be confused. I give myself grace.

10. confidante [ˈkɑːnfɪˌdænt] - (noun) - A person with whom one shares a secret or private matter, trusting them not to repeat it to others. - Synonyms: (trusted friend, companion, adviser)

Find the people who know you really, really well, who love you no matter what you do, that know you're going to make mistakes and that say, that's okay, they're your safe haven.

11. levity [ˈlɛvɪti] - (noun) - Lightness of mind, character, or behavior; a lack of seriousness, especially when it is welcome. - Synonyms: (lightheartedness, humor, cheerfulness)

Find the people who make you laugh.

Change is just evolution - Kamelia Fisher - TEDxAkron

Pond five. So I'm going to talk about change, the word that people always have a reaction to. Normally negative. They say things like, I hate change. I'm not going to change. Why do we have to change? It's just a word. I suggest we change what that word is, and we use evolution. evolution is movement. It's growth. Yes, it's a change. Could be for the better, but if we resist it, we won't know. Words are important to me, and I hope they are to you.

I'm going to start with a quote from Arthur Ashe, and he said, start where you are. Use what you have and do what you can. I apply that every day because I am an overachiever. I take on more than I should. But when I bring myself back to that, it's a balance. It also reflects how we can handle change. Start just where you are. It's easier to get from here to here than way out here. Use what you have. It can be resources. It can be people. And I'll go through some of that as well. And do what you can, because if we don't do it, then who will? That's all about the evolution.

I start every year with three words that I'm going to live by. It's like my mission. Companies have mission, nonprofits have mission. It's what. What you take to make your next decision. I'm going to the first two I've had for a couple years because I've needed them. I didn't need to change them. The first one is grace. I give myself grace. grace to not always know the answer, to be frustrated, to be worried, to be confused. I give myself grace. More importantly, maybe I give those around me grace. grace to have a different opinion. grace to have a different way to live their lives, a different decision. I give them grace.

My second word is joy. I look for joy. Sometimes you have to look for it, because if you don't, I know I'll put my head down and keep going forward. But we'll miss some of the beautiful things, and some of those come from change. I do not like cold weather. I do not like the winter. I'm not crazy about the seasons, but I learned about 10 years ago to quit fighting it. It's change. And I was doing what I always tell people not to do. So I decided, to me, fall was, it's just winter. It's just showing me it's winter. When I decided to say, you know what? Those trees are kind of pretty. The mums are beautiful. It's a different way to look at fall, I seek the joy in fall. Winter still follows. But I have noticed that also seeking joy. Snowflakes are really kind of pretty. Not when they're all piled on top of each other, but one at a time. They're very beautiful. You know, when you get up in the morning and the trees are covered in snow, that's pretty. Instead of saying, ugh, joy. We can see joy around us. You know, when I get up every morning, the sun is shining. It's joy. I also seek joy from the people I'm with. If it's not joyful, quit doing it. If you can make a slight change to make it more joyful, do that. Don't just walk away from it. embrace the joy.

My last word, I switched out about a month ago. And as you know, there's a lot going on in our world and I certainly don't understand it, and I don't think I will. But my new word is faith. It's faith that will figure it out. It's faith in my community, faith, faith in my neighbors. It's faith that we'll be okay, we just need to work together. But that faith makes me get up every day and do what I can to move that forward.

So three words. I think everybody can find their own words. If you want to borrow mine, that's wonderful. grace is important when. If I could get everybody to take up grace, that would make me very happy. The other thing is find your people as you navigate change. Everybody needs. It could be one person, it could be a group, it could be a village, it could be a community. Find the people who know you really, really well, who love you no matter what you do, that know you're going to make mistakes and that say, that's okay, they're your safe haven. Then change is not so scary. Change is okay.

The other thing is find a person or the community. That's your speed bump. These are the people that pull you back and say, I don't know what you're doing here, but it's not good. Or they tell you, you know what, I got to tell you something. You're not going to like what you hear, but they'll tell you, find your speed bumps and you know the other person. Find the people who make you laugh. I'll tell you a little story. I met a person that actually I hired her to work for me and she wasn't the greatest assistant, but she brought me so much joy, she made me laugh. I am in a meeting windows and I'm having a serious meeting. The person that is behind me or that is I'm talking to has his back to the windows. She's 75. She moonwalked kind of in front of the windows as I'm having a serious conversation. I'd known her two weeks. What I learned was she made me laugh. She doesn't work with me anymore. She's a very dear friend of mine. Two hours with her, my sides hurt. But you know what? I go away feeling better, less stressed. Find the person that moonwalks while you're having a meeting. That's easy.

So again, change. Be flexible. It's okay to grumble a little bit, but put that grumbled. You know, it takes a lot of energy to be angry. I was telling him upstairs, I can't yell. You couldn't hear me before you. I. I can't yell because I've never yelled. It's not in my character. It also takes a lot of energy to yell. I conserve energy and use it for good. I invite all of you to do the same. I invite you to evolve and grow. And tomorrow is going to be a new day. Take my word. grace, please.

And then the last thing I'm going to talk to you about, I'm going to leave you with one more quote, and it's William Arthur Ward said, a pessimist complains about the wind, so I don't complain about the weather anymore. Just so you know, an optimist expects it to change. A realist adjusts the sale. Let's all adjust our sales and evolve into a better you. Thank you.

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