Hi Reader,

Have you ever rearranged the furniture at home and felt a bit uneasy afterwards? Or had a terrible day at work, but as soon as you get home and do “your thing,” all that stress melts away? That thing might be a favourite chair, a good book, a call to a friend, or even preparing a meal.

These moments of comfort are explained by the concept of Stability Zones, first described by Alvin Toffler in 1971. Stability Zones help us manage stress by providing familiarity, certainty, and comfort during change.

They come in different forms:

• People – those you can be yourself around, who listen and share values with you.
• Ideas – beliefs or values that give you a sense of steadiness.
• Places – a favourite chair, park, beach, or even a country.
• Things – objects that bring comfort, like a lucky item or a cherished book.
• Organisations – clubs, professional groups, or workplaces where you feel welcome.

3 Steps to use Stability Zones in your life:

1. Identify them – List your people, places, things, ideas, and organisations that make you feel secure. Your first instincts are usually accurate.
2. Manage them – Ask yourself: Are they stable? Can I influence them? Do I want to nurture them? Will they endure change? Focus your energy on the zones that matter most and invest in keeping them strong.
3. Take action – Enjoy and nurture your stability zones. They help you navigate change with more ease and confidence.

What are your stability zones? Download and try this short exercise:

Stability Zones Worksheet

A thought for leaders:

When I was advising a large finance organisation, we moved to hot-desking to save costs.

They did all the right things: communicated clearly, got buy-in, provided lockers, and implemented the change smoothly. Costs went down. Collaboration went up.

But something felt off.

Desks became cleaner… too clean. No photos. No plants. No personal touches.

It reminded me of that feeling when you’ve rearranged the furniture — everything looks fine, but it doesn’t feel quite right.

Did they unintentionally remove some of people’s stability zones — the small, familiar anchors that make work feel safe and personal?

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Resilience Newsletter - Resilience Development Company

The team at Resilience Development Co.