Perhaps it’s a function of getting a little older, or perhaps even a little wiser, but lately I’ve found that I spend more time stepping back and reflecting.
I wanted to take the opportunity to share some lessons that I’ve learned from these reflections, as I know there are many in our industry – and within my broader network – who are navigating uncertainty and adversity. Or they’re just trying to live a life that brings them fulfillment and happiness.
Our big life journey is made up of many small journeys. Each of those journeys has a beginning, a middle and an end, and there’s often more than one happening at any point in time. I think this contributes to the complexity that many of us navigate on a daily basis.
The pace, intensity and length of each journey can vary greatly; sometimes they’re condensed into a short period, while others can seem to go on for quite some time.
Sometimes these journeys are within our control and sometimes they aren’t. Sometimes they concern us directly, but they can just as easily be happening to someone we’re connected to.
There’s no doubt that our individual resilience, preparedness and mindset can shape how we embrace and deal with these adversities. Of course, the way others respond to these situations can also have an impact.
In saying all this, the last six months for me have been a serious resilience-tester and almost all elements of my life have been impacted:
- Changes in employment
- The unexpected passing of my father; supporting my mother
- Personal health events
- The sale of our family home
- The purchase of our new family home
- The death of a beloved pet
These are all high-emotion events. Some had financial implications, too, which can magnify the emotional rollercoaster.
The first lesson I learned is that it’s important to be mindful and focus not just on the outcome, but also how it makes us (or others important to us) feel. For many of us, it’s about bringing a broader group of people – whether colleagues or family – along with us through the ups and downs.
These six months have reinforced to me just how important family is – and how some things in my life needed to change so I could properly realign. Each of these events had a trigger and then follow-on activities, or things that followed.
Consequences, in other words.
In addition to the big lesson above, I also learned that important to:
- Prepare in advance for change (where possible)
- Be mindful of your personal resilience levels
- Seek out opportunities to improve your resilience
- Utilise support structures
- Keep revisiting what’s important to you
- Stay focused on enjoying the journey along the way, as sometimes things don’t play out as expected
- Be mindful of everything you’re grateful for, and keep reminders handy to help you through more challenging times
- Be aware of the things you can do (or have done in the past) that have helped you navigate adversity
- Remember that your greatest growth as a person and as a leader can come from being outside of your comfort zone.
I’m sure I’m not alone in having intense and emotional periods of change within a condensed period. I’m certainly not Robinson Crusoe in this field, which is why I think these lessons are worthy of consideration no matter who you are.
So, when you reflect on the last six months, what has had the greatest impact on your focus for the next three years, both personally and professionally?
Advisely Board