We're not who we used to be.
The world is not what it was.
It's been a ... time.
With all that’s happened in the last couple of years, we’re not who we used to be. Yet, we haven’t quite become who we’re going to be either.
Awhile back, it seemed like there might be some definitive finish line that we’d cross, arms thrown in the air in victory. But these days, it appears that we’re going to be progressing in fits and starts with no clear end in sight.
It's left us in a void.
There’s so much up in the air, and it’s left us in a void of sorts. For example, when it comes to work, there are still many questions left to answer: Will a four-day work week emerge? Will employers continue to offer flexibility? Will we go back to all-work and no time to live? Will everyone slowly go back to the old ways? Or, will there be a big shift?
The Great Resignation seems to be a collective rejection of the way we used to work, as people quit jobs at a record-breaking pace, with more and more people wanting to be treated better and have more meaning in their work lives.
There’s a lot we don’t know, but so many of us are yearning for a new kind of life. But, focusing on what we don’t know “out there” isn’t helping. In fact, it’s creating uncomfortable feelings like: uneasiness, anxiety, worry. If you’re waiting for clarity from the world, it might be a long wait.
Shift your focus.
That’s why, now is great time to focus on you. It can be really helpful to shift your focus away from all that uncertainty and towards a place where you have power: you. Getting clear about this updated version of you and what you really want now is a way to manage uncertain times.
With a little effort, you can get clear about what’s now important to you, so you’re ready to go after what you want instead of eventually settling for what gets offered to you.
Big moves are not required.
Start small. How about a simple exercise?
- What do you want more of?
- What do you want less of?
- What is working (and can be a foundation on which to build)?
- What’s not working for you anymore?
You can, for example, make this a journal prompt for the next two weeks. A simple exercise like this can create clarity and help focus your energy on what you can do right now. It can ignite desire in you, which is a great place to start.
Clarity brings calm confidence.
Voids are uncomfortable, so shift your focus and create clarity for yourself. Focus on where you have power, and that’s on you. We’re not who we used to be, but we can use this opportunity to finally become who we’ve always wanted to be.
