We all know what it takes to get fit for life. Regular exercise, at least three days a week. A balanced diet (don't forget your fruit and veggies!). A good night's sleep.

And every now and again, a relaxing, well-deserved break from the workday grind. But do you know what it takes to get fit for change?

That was the big idea at the heart of a lively and thought-provoking panel discussion to introduce the Change Science Institute, a world-first initiative from BrightRock, in collaboration with Henley Business School Africa.

Yes, change is a science, and the more we understand the way it works, the better we will be equipped to overcome challenges and make the most of any opportunity that dares us to seize the day.

Just as being physically fit can boost your energy levels, improve your mood, and fortify your defences against illness, so can change-fitness strengthen your resilience and sharpen your senses in a fast-changing world.

“We believe people can get fitter at navigating change,” said BrightRock CEO Suzanne Stevens.

“Whether it’s a change you choose or one that’s forced on you, there are ways to get better at handling it, and even finding opportunity in it.”

Joining Suzanne on the panel, which was expertly chaired by journalist Rob Rose, were Jon Foster-Pedley, Dean and Director of Henley Business School Africa, and Nicola Kleyn, Extraordinary Professor at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and Dean of Executive Education at Erasmus University's Rotterdam School of Management.

Nicola, who likes to think of herself as a scientific scavenger — “If I had to be an animal,” she said, “it would be a hyena” — explained how change is fundamental to human endeavour and progress.

“The idea of change is absolutely fundamental, and you cannot drive change at a systems level without individual catalysts,” she added. “Yes, we need technology, but at the core of this is human beings who are able to navigate and thrive in the face of change.”

That principle underpins BrightRock's approach to life insurance, reflected in the mantra “Love Change" and in the idea that your needs change as your life circumstances change.

For every change, at every stage, from graduation to career moves to marriage to parenthood to owning a home, there is a story to be told.

In the 14 years since its founding, BrightRock has gathered hundreds of such stories, told in the first person and hosted in text, video, and voice on the Change Exchange.

Now, the lessons we can learn from the lives of others are being reinforced and expanded by the research and findings of the new Change Science Institute.

“What we’re trying to do,” said Henley Business School Africa’s dean and director, Jon Foster-Pedley, “is turn good research into good practice. Not abstract theory, but living guidance. Something that helps people live better, sooner.”

Already, the Change Science Institute is piloting a series of practical offerings, including a six-module masterclass on change fitness, along with apps, toolkits, and bite-sized frameworks that anyone can use in their daily life or during life’s big moments.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all formula,” said Suzanne. “But we can give people choices. We can give them models that help them see more clearly and act more confidently.”

One of the most illuminating elements of the panel discussion was the way it reframed change. It’s not always a disaster you need to manage; sometimes it’s a dream you decide to chase, or a reinvention that you choose for yourself.

Nicola shared how change has followed her throughout her own journey, from South Africa to the Netherlands to Atlanta in the US, where she now lives.

“I’ve changed careers, cities, identities,” she said, “and what I’ve learned is that being open to change is the key to resilience. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. You need tools. You need stories. You need frameworks that make the journey more navigable.”

There is nothing new to the idea that change is the only constant in life. The Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, said as much more than 2 600 years ago. But it's worth saying again, because the world keeps changing.

As Jon noted, the world is changing fast, caught in the maelstrom of climate change, technology, geopolitics, and identity.

“Business schools, and businesses themselves, have to be asking not just how to adapt, but how to lead with relevance,” he said. “And that starts with helping people become better learners and more agile thinkers.”

Change, as the panel discussion made clear, isn't just about personal growth. It’s about staying flexible, reflective, and open to learning. Perhaps most importantly, it's about maintaining hope, backed by the rigour of science.

Being curious, being willing to shift, stretch, and rethink, are all part of the new skill set we need to develop and practise in this age of change.

So whether you're navigating change at work, in your personal life, or in your outlook on the world, the Change Science Institute offers new, interesting, and practical ways to cope with whatever lies ahead, as you, too, learn to Love Change.