This time last year, the world was locked down. There were mask mandates everywhere… and most of us were attending meetings, parent-teacher conferences, and social gatherings from home in our pajamas.
Now, a year later, we’re moving on from the pandemic (hopefully), but war is raging in Eastern Europe. You might say we’ve swapped one threat for another. Out of the frying pan, into the fire, so to speak.
The geopolitical landscape has changed. And, unless you have a crystal ball (or work for the CIA), no-one saw it coming.
Changes in my life in the last 12 months
My own life has seen change as well. Some of it for the better, other things not so much.
Our team is larger now than ever before, and the business is improving all the time. We used to measure our impact in terms of striving for Thoughtfully Fit to become a household name, but now we’re looking at more corporate metrics like annual recurring revenue, strong business processes, and client retention rates.
In my personal life, I’m much more playful and balanced than I was this time last year. I don’t always work weekends anymore (thankfully!), and I spend more time binge-watching YouTube and hanging with my daughters than I used to. These have all been good changes. And we’re moving to a new house, after 22 years in our current home.
On a less positive note, my dating life is basically non-existent at this point! I’ve been on one date in the last 18 months, and that was a hike, so … yeah. And my mom is no longer with us, having passed away in the fall after a six year battle with cancer. Even though she was struggling with her own challenges, she was a pillar of strength when my life fell apart, a mere six months after her diagnosis. She was there every step of my journey as one of my greatest supporters, and so I was overjoyed she was able to read my book that was published shortly before she passed.
Two types of change
No-one knows exactly what May 2023 will look like, but if one thing’s for certain, there will be more change. That much is inevitable. My question for you is: how will you deal with it?
I like to think of change in two categories:
- Change that’s thrust upon us by the outside world: the situation in Ukraine, the pandemic, market conditions, etc. Let’s call this external change.
- Change that we choose ourselves: a new habit, different job, or perhaps moving to a new state. Let’s call this internal change.
Responding effectively to external change
We can’t control external change. It happens whether we like it or not. We can only control how we respond to it.
The Thoughtfully Fit practice of Agility helps us respond to change effectively, especially when we’re blindsided. Notice that I say “respond,” not “react.”
That’s the difference between hitting your fists on the table in rage when your conference gets moved online—yet again, as opposed to pivoting and finding ways to make the most of the new webinar format.
Or the difference between anxiously refreshing CNN every minute to see what Putin’s done next, compared with the person who briefly informs themselves without spiraling into despair.
Finding the right support for internal change
As for internal change, my life experience has shown me that investing in the right coaches and therapists is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. That’s a bold statement, I know. And yes, I’ve spent a tremendous amount of time and money hiring professionals to support me, but the ROI on that investment has been phenomenal.
Fundamentally, people come to coaching because they want to change a particular part of their life. Over the course of the coaching process, they look closely at what they want in the future, identify what’s in the way of that, and then create actions to remove the obstacles to make it happen.
That’s not always easy.
It requires letting go of the old to make way for the new. Old mindsets, bad habits, poor relationships, or even uninspiring jobs! Often, those things are comfortable, because they’re known. But it’s in choosing to let go of what’s comfortable that positive change is sparked.
Here’s a core workout to help you get the process of internal change started right now:
- Pause: The next time you feel something needs to change, Pause for a moment.
- Think: What do you control here? What outcome are you trying to achieve? What support do you need?
- Act: Take one small step to build the courage needed to change for the better.
You’ve got this!
