I hope you are returning to work rested and full of beans.
However, if that bean jar is somewhat depleted, you won’t be alone. Omicron and the feeling of lack of progress has many of us deflated. It’s so hard to plan and get excited about the future when the context is so unpredictable.
- How did you feel when the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve? Flatter than usual?
- Is your mojo failing a bit?
- Have you got less confidence in the future?
- Do work and responsibility feel like a drag when it used to be motivating?
- Perhaps you had some dreams and ambitions but you feel like abandoning them because the climb seems too steep right now.
40% of people are suffering a drop in confidence since the pandemic began.
The Guardian Australia
HOW FEELING OUT OF CONTROL CAN CAUSE US TO WITHDRAW
In the 1990’s I was working in central London. It was the time of the Northern Ireland Troubles and bombs were going off or being defused every day, all around us. Buses, pubs, vans on the street, shopping malls and departments stores – even 10 Downing Street all suffered bombing. Driving to work meant new daily detours due to sudden road closures. Public transport was dangerous- but then it all was. We had to change our local work pub as it had blown up – a bomb in the toilets.
This pandemic has had an unpredictable effect on our lives and we now realise it may continue to do so for years to come. The initial psychological response is to withdraw – hide and wait. Live a smaller life, forget our dreams and just exist.
While this is understandable, it’s not going to help us live our best lives, is it?
What opportunities have you missed over the last 2 years because you’ve withdrawn from them?
The IRA bombing of London was scary but after a while, we just couldn’t hold off living our lives. You can’t live in hiding. So after a time, it became normal and we just carried on with our lives.
The key to dealing with a stressful environment is to realise which parts of it you can control – control those, and accept those parts you can’t control.
Living with this virus in the community requires the same response.
I’m not suggesting we stop wearing masks, throw big parties in our homes – but there are many opportunities we can pursue that don’t require risky behaviour.
LET’S NOT CONFUSE FEAR OF THE VIRUS WITH FEAR OF LIVING!
Are you Settling for Flat when you could be Flying?
FEELING FLAT AND LACKING ENERGY?
Feeling flat is no joke. Most people in this category find they’re suffering from an acute case of CBA – Can’t Be Arsed. We know we are not our best selves, but we’re doing our best nonetheless.
We are STAGNANT, so, do we need a big kick? NO!!! We need recognition, compassion, and a chance to acknowledge what we have actually achieved in difficult circumstances. And then a plan for steady, one-step-at-a-time progress.
FEELING FEARFUL – CONFIDENCE REDUCED?
So you’ve stuck your head out of your shell and even seen where you might like to go/what you might like to do with 2022. But it’s scary and you actually feel relieved when you find you don’t have time to pursue it. The problem here is you end up PARALYSED. It all seems much too hard – but you know you’re not doing yourself justice. You know you’re making excuses.
Maybe it’s been a while since you made real progress and you’ve lost your self-belief. This needs repairing, and renewing, not ignoring. Ignoring is just going to make it worse.
Again, the first step is kindness. Let’s take a look at your self-identity and what your fear-voice is telling you. We need to believe we are the sort of person who can achieve this goal in order to be able to do so. You’ve overcome challenges before, you can do it this time too!
PROGRESS IN FITS AND STARTS – THAT’S HARD WORK!
You start but can’t seem to finish. And that means you have to work all the harder because each time you leave it, you slip back. So you end up EXHAUSTED. 2 steps forward, 1 step back means far more steps. And as you keep stopping without completing your confidence and motivation suffer meaning it is even harder to get back on the steps and move forward. Are you beginning to think you won’t make it?
Of course you will – you just need some help to keep you on track – to keep the momentum up. Processes, support, accountability are essential at this stage.
OR ARE YOU FLYING!
So you’re flying? Aiming for something and achieving it? Hurray, you’re GROWING! – taking a helicopter view of your life and inserting challenges and growth opportunities that will satisfy you, be they big or small.
How can you make your achievement processes friction-free? How can you ensure more of the actions are automatic by making them easy and enjoyable?
We can still make the most of these years – life hasn’t stopped unless we decide it has. Your dreams and ambitions can still come true. You can still grow and learn and live in joy.
