This year has provided most of us an overabundance of opportunities to develop our coping skills, hasn’t it? Throughout our lives, we all have times when we are in, going into, or coming out of crisis.
While we might have a desire for things to “go back to normal” or to find a “new normal,” what really matters is what we are learning from these times. What I’ll call “The Great Pause” created by COVID has brought to the forefront reflection on what’s really important in life. Many students are telling me they had no idea how far out of balance their lives had become or the level of un-evaluated busyness there was. Many are being more purposeful about how they choose to live.
Others are re-evaluating how they think about, support and treat their fellow human beings. People are recognizing that the need for improved communication skills is dire.
I’m a firm believer in asking questions. To this day, when I meet someone new, I ask questions about where they’re from and what they do (for a living or for fun). I also ask about their life experiences and for the best advice they have to share with others. I’ve had the good fortune to meet some great leaders who generously shared their thoughts with me. I’ve learned as much from the students of my training who have shared their experiences both in life and in business. If I hadn’t asked, how would I have known?
What’s important in these times is to keep asking questions and listening to the answers. Keep communicating with others. Keep asking yourself questions, too. Here are just a few to get you started:
- What have I learned from recent experiences?
- Are there areas of my life that require a change in thinking or action?
- What’s really important to me?
- How can I make a positive difference in the lives of others?
The times, they are a changing. Let’s do our part to make those changes for the good.
