The Epicenter of Constant Change

When change is thrust upon us, not being the one to initiate it can make us feel helpless or even panic-stricken. When we take responsibility during a change, our relationship with it can shift for the better.

What’s happening on our globe right now has jolted my memory right back to 1983 and the then-ensuing civil war in Sri Lanka. This Coronavirus pandemic we are all experiencing, in some form or another, is a change that is rocking our worlds, and not for good. Change is constant, and we can make good from bad if we look carefully.

I grew up in that war-torn country of Sri Lanka. At one point, things were dire…stores ran out of essential items, the government imposed mandatory curfews, people were frightened. It was a major change from the serenity and freedoms we had always known, to a terrorizing wake-up call. People were dying before my eyes. I thought about what I could do so that I wasn’t left with the fear and trauma that was growing inside of me.

I decided to more consciously value my own life which I had clearly taken for granted. I started playing piano more and writing songs during one of the lengthier lockdowns. Before the curfews started, I remember not waiting until the last minute to change my own behavior: I proactively sought out safer routes to get around town (before my normal ones were closed off). I became more judicious in how I used the supplies I already had (before stores ran out). I was choosing to act responsibly where I could and doing so when I knew the time was right…not simply after I was forced to.

As a leader in my life, I take responsibility for what I can and aim to do so in a way that inspires others. If I’m not careful, my words and actions could potentially create fear. I explain the rationale behind my actions, and I stay present to understand my impact to ensure it lands in a way that is aligned with my intent. I tap into my most creative self to see what actually can be positive about a particular change and help make that more evident to others wherever possible. Leading through constant change really is about us, as people, and how we make the best of what’s before us.

This Week: Where are you noticing negative tension with change? How can you reframe the change to see its positive intent? Who might you influence or inspire through your own ability to respond and be response-able (responsible) under changing circumstances?

In Next Week’s Post: Identifying your strengths.