Post-Pandemic Possibilities
The past 14 months have been awful, and we’re still not done with that horrible virus. But for many, there’s also been time to consider the possibility and promise of a post-pandemic world. Will your future be a return to the past or something more powerful?
Good enough isn’t, and you know it. So if you’re not happy, fulfilled, or growing as you’d like, here are nine steps to get you moving in a new direction.
1 — Challenge yourself by asking probing questions about your actions and core values. Are they in alignment? How is the way you’re living your life honoring — or dishonoring — those values?
2 — Disregard fake news. Those long-held beliefs that guide your life — where did they come from, and are the sources credible? What is one tenet you always accepted as fact, yet turned out to be untrue? What else might fall into the same category?
3 — Recognize that each moment counts. You are in charge of how you present yourself to the world. Define yourself or others will do it for you.
4 — Adjust the lens through which you view your worst moments. Plenty of smart people have weighed in on this concept through the ages. One door closes, another opens, and all that. But it’s true, and you must be smart enough to see it and go through the right door.
5 — Be reasonable with yourself. Every error is not a disaster, just as each victory is not worth a night on the town (even with a mask). Still, it’s important to celebrate small wins and learn from small errors. It’s not “all good,” but it is all manageable.
6 — Speak up mindfully and strategically, or prepare to bear the cost of remaining silent. You are your own best advocate. If an inner critic stands in the way, take steps to begin showing him the door. And when it comes to alleged job security, remember, too, that golden handcuffs are still handcuffs.
7 — Set goals, but think hard about what will be a stretch, what is realistic, and what is personally acceptable. Then plan accordingly. Hitting the gym six days a week for three hours a day would shed the weight faster, for instance, but most would find it overwhelming and quit. Mission unaccomplished.
8 — Perform a self-audit. If you’re feeling unfulfilled, do a brutally honest Q&A. What’s missing? Where did you go off track? Imagine yourself a year from now, serene and content. What are you doing? Who are you with? How can you get to this new place?
9 — Heed your most trusted advisor: you! Gather data from as many sources as you’d like but remember that your own instinct and intuition have gotten you this far. It is your right (and arguably, your responsibility) to advance a minority opinion, even when you’re the subject of discussion. Don’t be afraid to challenge the conventional wisdom.
Last, remember that consensus is not necessarily truth, no matter how many people believe it, and especially when the person they’re all talking about is you!
Steve Piacente is the owner of Next Phase Life Coaching and the author of, “Your New Fighting Stance: Good Enough Isn’t, and You Know It,” from which this post is excerpted. He is also Director of Training at The Communication Center in Washington, D.C.
