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People seem to “overreact” to a change when they are reacting more than we are.  But when we think that way, we overlook two things:  first, that changes cause transitions, which cause losses, and it is the losses, not the changes, that they’re reacting to; and second, that it’s a piece of their world that is being lost, not a piece of ours, and we often react that way ourselves when it’s part of our own world that is being lost.  Being reasonable is much easier if you have little or nothing at stake.

Managing Transitions:  Making the Most of Change, William Bridges, page 26