Any abrupt change is a shock to our system. If it’s short-term, we absorb it and move on in our established patterns. If it’s prolonged, our system can’t just “reboot” and return to its normal operating function… we have to adapt. This is true for pandemics and job searches.
It Feels Scary
The first time I had to venture out for groceries was surreal. My eyes would dart from side to side, gaging out 6 feet, panicking as soon as someone turned down my aisle, totally afraid to even pick up packages let alone fresh fruits and veggies. I was a total wreck when I got home. Going out with my wife was even worse. She would dart down an aisle and, in my mind, risk the safety of the 6-foot bubble my imagination had built around our shopping cart. It drove me crazy. I vowed, “no way am I going out shopping again!”
What Changed?
Well, staying away from grocery stores is not an option. There are things we just can’t get delivered in a timely manner. So, I had no choice but to venture out. And the line-ups, the face masks, the gloves, the wiped-down shopping carts, the plexiglass barriers, the spacing lines and dots on the floor, is now part of my shopping routine. It’s not just the “new normal,” it’s becoming the “accepted normal.” And my stress about going out has decreased dramatically.
Now I Know the New Rules
I understand why the masks and social distancing matter and I’m implementing the new rules into my daily life. I can get things done without anxiety. I’ve allowed my evolutionary advantage of adaptability take its natural course and have adjusted my behavior to survive and even flourish in the “new normal.”
The Power of Perception
Knowing you can adjust and flourish is the perspective you need to conquer being “in transition.” You need to understand that the rules have changed from life as an employee to life as an entrepreneur. You are building a brand, documenting what your brand can do and selling your expertise and experience. Being told “no” is part of the “new normal” too. But, the better you get at moving forward from “redirection letters,” the sooner you’ll find a better opportunity.And, the better you are at adapting to the “new normal” of being in transition, the sooner you’ll evolve into your “new future!”
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