Course Correction & Reinvention

When living daily life. we don't

always pick up on changes that occur over significant

time. So it can catch us by surprise when we

wake up and realize that a particular way of life is no more.

 It's disconcerting to say the least.

And when we find ourselves smack dab in the center of

changes we weren't prepared for, which there are no

immediately evident solutions to, it can be stressful. After

all, ordinary life is enough of a strain without flipping

the script mid-season. 

People are creatures of habit: We learn a particular way

of doing things, or we grow accustomed to a pattern that

is comfortable and predictable. We don't all have 

backup plans for unexpected changes, such as

entire industries dying off, rampant downsizing, jobs

being sent overseas, stagnant wages, your once-dependable

benefits and retirement plans being lost, etc.

So here we are, struck by unexpected problems and

differences in the daily grind, and our old methods of response 

are no longer working. Shock and disbelief, confusion, even

grief are natural reactions. 'Fixed thinking' can become so much

a part of us that we feel as if we're losing a piece of ourself

to change it. Again--we are creatures of habit.

First we have to come to terms with what has happened, and 

realize the need for a shift in our thinking to respond.

 If what used to work is no longer effective, then we

must search for new ways to respond. And that first

means opening up our minds to the possibilities that are 

available, including ones we might never have imagined.

Changing the way we think and act is a more gargantuan 

task than it appears on paper. Reshaping the way we think 

about life, problems, work, the way we deal with 

money and housing and...well, it's daunting. There's a certain

amount of security in doing things the old way...

even after we realize they're no longer effective responses. 

So opening the mind to a need for change, and 

then seeking that change are first on the 'To do' list.

We are adaptive beings, when necessary. When the whole 

world undergoes a change at once, like in a world war or 

significant disaster, we have a shared experience to relate to. 

But when only you have your life turned upside down, and

everyone else is moving ahead with business as usual, it's

easy to become lost and lonely. The Unknown is scary business.

Softening ourselves up so that we are more receptive to

new and different ideas takes time. Effort. Consistency. 

And patience.

In order to become who we need to be in order to

successfully weather changes in the natural order,

we have to become malleable. We have to be open to 

reinventing ourselves...and our society as a whole.

Transformation is not easy.

That which is vital to survival never is.

***