WHAT’S NEXT?
FACING THE UNKNOWN REQUIRES BRAVERY AND ASKING BETTER QUESTIONS.
We are constantly experiencing change, and honestly, it seems like a welcome shift. Our relationship with work has long been due for a transformation, and we now have a unique opportunity to redefine the role of work in our lives.
However, change can be difficult. Even when voluntary, it requires us to adapt our behaviors to fit new circumstances. When discussing change, we often rush to predict the future, rather than questioning the purpose of the change.
WHY CHANGE?
Change can come from a desire for improvement, the need to fix something that's broken, or simply as part of evolution and growth. Sometimes, it feels like the ground has been swept out from under us, leaving us to ask, "what's next?"
Several times in my life, I've been in situations where I have asked what's next. Looking back, every ten years major change has happened in my life, some by choice, some because of loss.
It feels scary when everything we know about our daily life changes and we need to make new decisions. Or we are faced with a choice that affects our future. But even when we didn't choose the change, we still have to make choices about what's next.
To answer that, we need to identify questions that help us explore the purpose of change, its importance, its impact, and the necessary steps. Exploring the effects of change on us, especially when making decisions, involves considering various options.
Instead of looking for the answer, look for the questions that will lead you to the answer.
Think about a detective at a crime scene. They don't arrive asking, "who did it?" They start by seeking a motive. Understanding what matters to you and why will help you navigate the changes ahead.
CHANGE AND COURAGE CAN BE FRIENDS.
Change invariably involves the unknown, often triggering fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD). Don't rush to judge your stress; change naturally induces stress. The goal is to manage this stress effectively.
Our instinctual response to stress is self-protection, resistance to change, numbing feelings, and trying to control our anxiety. FUD can provide valuable information, prompting further questions that lead to answers.
To transform fear and uncertainty into clarity and confidence starts with pausing to notice how you are thinking and feeling. Power-Pausing is the moment where you can stop the automatic reaction to stress and fear and instead pause. Pause to make a choice to listen inside, notice how you are relating to the challenge in front of you and then again choose to ask questions that allow you to deepen and transform your experience instead of just fixing it.
Asking questions will reveal why the change matters to you and others, the potential of the change, the impact it can have on your work and life, and the people you care about. And being aware of the challenges it presents, without getting stuck in what might seem safe because it's what we know, and instead ask what you need to face these challenges with more curiosity and courage.
Intention fuels attention.
That means, if you are looking for reasons that change will not work, you will find it, because those are the questions that you will end up asking, and therefore answering. If you acknowledge the challenges, but shift your attention to the impact the change can possibly have, you will start asking questions with curiosity, which is at the core of finding clarity about what matters to you, courage to explore the possibility, and confidence in yourself that you will be able to figure it out.
For instance, in a career transition, inquire about what motivates you daily, the skills you possess, and the ones you need to develop.
Like a detective tracing steps backward to solve a crime, we envision steps forward and evaluate their impact. Curiosity is key in this process, but fear and curiosity can't coexist. Therefore, understanding your FUD is the first step, which then allows you to explore the situation and your options courageously.
