In this second installment in my new “Be a Taker” series on navigating transition, I’m turning our attention to tools under the heading of “Take In.” It’s an invitation to pay attention to what you’re ‘ingesting’ as fuel for your forthcoming success.
It’s a good time to time to curate your focus, your crew, your creative energies and your expectations. Very practically, here’s what I’d suggest you try:
- Marvel. Putting ourselves in awe-inspiring situations puts things in perspective. During transitions, we can tend to overthink. Awe reminds us that we are not at the centre of the universe. For more on this, have a look at my post or Dacher Keltner’s work. The specific winners for inspiring awe? Moral beauty in others (so pay attention to who you hang out with), collective effervescence (think of attending a concert, a sporting event or a worship service) and nature (get outside).
- Connect. Our social health is vital, and handling uncertainty is easier when we don’t do it alone. We need people around us to listen well, laugh with, inspire us and offer wise perspective. A mix of formal and informal relationships, including strong and weak ties, is what’s prescribed here.
- Upskill. Seasons of transition are known to be hotbeds of creativity. They are a great time to learn a new skill or hobby — for the enjoyment, for the ‘scaffolding’ they provide to your schedule, and for their potential usefulness later.
- Pace Yourself. Many of us are surprised at how long it can take to adjust to a new season in our lives — and even longer when we’re navigating multiple transitions at once. According to Bruce Feiler, major disruptive “lifequakes” can last an average of five years, and more “everyday transitions” require our attention for at least a few months. Set your expectations accordingly and be gentle on yourself. As any runner will tell you, we train differently for a marathon than a sprint!
Now, if you’re an organizational leader and read the above list only with your personal life in mind, consider heading back to the start and reading it through a corporate lens — the tips hold true in organizations too!