This blog is updated from the original posted on November 13, 2019.
I was looking through old blogs and came across this one—and I had to laugh. When I wrote this in 2019 clearly, I had no idea about the wave of change coming at us.
The reality is that during the last 2 ½ years, we’ve all had to manage a lot of change. We’ve all been turned upside down, inside out. And because of it, we have a different perspective. I now think of change and transition not as static events or incidents but more as the evolution of life.
If you look at change through that constant-change, constant-learn lens—by shifting your mindset and expectations—it will be easier to embrace the challenges or stressors that often come with those changes.
Expect change to happen.
Big or small, change is inevitable. At some point, we’ll all experience some degree of change in our personal and professional lives. But, managing those transitions is something that some of us seem to be better at than others.
Here’s what I can share from my journey.
I’m currently embracing—even enjoying—the latest transitions in my life. My wife and I have recently gone from a full house to an empty nest, and I’ve found myself evolving from being a dad to also serving as a mentor and advisor for my two grown sons who are getting started in their careers.
In my job, I used to be a sales rep who worked to anticipate and troubleshoot for my customers and then provide solutions to help them increase revenue, save time, gain market share, and so on. Now, I’ve transitioned into the role of manager and sometimes cheerleader. I coach our salesforce at Shamrock about how to create that same value for our customers.
Over the years, I’ve also had to navigate and respond to the velocity of business change based on ever-changing technology. It’s something that we’ve all had to accept and adapt—or be woefully left behind.
These are some of the changes I’ve experienced firsthand; I’ve learned that there’s no secret sauce to successfully managing and navigating transitions like these. No roadmap expertly guides you to the other side of change. However, I have found that controlling my mindset has really helped me turn life’s challenges and transitions into opportunities for growth.
After reviewing my original list of essential tips from 2019, I realized that all three rules still apply today. They’re foundational life principles.
Here are my tips for helping create a resilient mindset to navigate better and manage change.
Incorporate a daily focus.
Carve time out of your day, every day, to focus on exactly where you’re at, Be present. For me, my daily routine involves reading from scripture and reflecting in prayer; for you, it might be meditating or practicing yoga. Using that quiet time to tune into what’s on your mind and in your heart is a great way to center yourself.
Practice gratitude.
It’s been proven that spending five minutes a day (or just five minutes a week) to keep a gratitude journal can make us much happier. Scientists have found that journaling makes us more optimistic and helps improve sleep, strengthen our emotions and reduce stress. Particularly during times of change, this practice can help you eliminate the noise and focus on the good stuff.
Revisit personal goals.
At the beginning of every year, I choose three words to focus on during the upcoming 12 months—my words for this year: kind, positive and resilient. As I face change in my personal and/or business life, these are words that I circle back to: How am I responding? How can I create positive outcomes? Are my actions in line with my goals?
These are three simple practices that I’ve found helpful in weathering change and keeping myself aligned with the thoughts and things most important in my life. What tips would you add to that list? I’d really like your feedback.
