I was considering calling this post ‘Lockdown Living’.
But, if you are anything like me, the mere mention of words like lockdown, coronavirus and Covid-19 are enough to cause a glazing over of the eyes and a feeling of serious fatigue!
Insights, is, after all, not a term that you would expect to associate with what has, for all of us, become a rather closeted existence in the past weeks!
“When things are bad, it’s the best time to reinvent yourself.”
– George Lopez
Change of an unprecedented nature
Insights is altogether more synonomous with change … and, quite out of the blue in 2020, change of a completely unprecedented nature has been visited upon an unsuspecting human race!
This is change of such magnitude that one might be forgiven for thinking our cities have been cordoned off for the filming of some apocalyptic sci-fi movie; change so fundamental that the most natural of human instincts to touch, shake hands, hug and embrace have been curtailed; change so widespread that virtually no country has been left unaffected.
Change of such exceptional proportions is bound to have significant knock on effects in the way we go about our lives long after the virus-that-shall-not-be-named has disappeared back into the black hole from which it emerged!
Reinvention set to become the order of the day
And this means that – at least once we have got over the shock of this unwanted intervention in our lives – that reinvention is set to become the order of the day.
Every change, no matter how wrenching, brings with it opportunity. The comet that wiped out the dinosaurs some 63 million years ago was truly cataclysmic and yet, it ultimately created the conditions for other life forms like ourselves to prosper.
Adapting to change
Adapting to change is difficult, even painful but, in the long run, not adapting is far more painful.
Not everyone adapts at the same rate.
Some will dig in their heels and refuse. Others will be slow to adapt, mistakenly assuming that everything will eventually revert to normal. Some will dust themselves off, recognise the opportunities rising from the rubble and adapt at speed.
A disruption and an opportunity
As I pointed out in the last post, Living in Interesting Times, being confined to our homes is a disruption of the frenetic day-to-day lives that characterise life for most of us. For most, so swept up in our externally focused lives, this seems like an unwelcome, untimely and deeply painful disruption.
But it is also an opportunity to take time out, to reflect and to start the process of reinventing our careers, businesses, finances, relationships, family lives, and, indeed, our entire way of living.
Keeping sane
To make my point, but on a much lighter note, I was engaging in a bit of banter yesterday with one of our UK suppliers, named John. John and I were comparing notes about what was allowed and not allowed in the two countries.
Printing and distribution of our life coach training programmes continues in the UK despite the lockdown. However, in South Africa, the terms of the lockdown currently preclude both (this has forced us to revisit our approach to making our programme material online, something we have resisted up to now).
\”You have another advantage, John,\” I remarked. \”You can at least stay sane by enjoyinga glass of your favourite something in the evening. In South Africa, we have prohibition!\”
John, quick to seize upon a potential opportunity, suggested exporting liquor from the UK to fill the void. “You don’t get it, John, we’re not allowed to source or buy liquor from anywhere!” I explained, to which he replied: “Don’t worry, we’ll ensure there’s at least 60% alcohol and we’ll label it as hand-crafted sane-tizer. Essential service!”
Thinking differently and creatively
Manipulating words and spelling to change the perceived nature of a product or service is not the form of reinvention I am recommending in this post … but I guess it is a rather crude example of how we need to think differently and creatively when times are tough!
If you happen to be a life coach right now, think about how you might reinvent your practice to adapt to the emerging new normal?
People need help in uncovering their inner strengths, creativity and resilience like never before. Right now, they may have less money but they have more time and more reason to be totally committed to the process.
If you’re not a life coach, why don’t you think of hiring one?
Two minds fully focused on one goal are so much more effective than one. Life coaches are specifically trained in helping clients to embrace change and create the conditions needed to flourish as individuals.
And finally, if you’re not a life coach but would like to get involved in a rapid growth industry that was created to help people deal with the unique demands and challenges of the 21st century, then check out our website below, drop us a line or give us a call. We\’d love to help you make it happen as the world needs you right now!
Stay safe, stay strong
As you navigate this very difficult, turbulent and yet, in many ways exciting period of opportunity, I wish you safety, good health and the inner strength and energy to adapt and reinvent yourself so you may ultimately enjoy a brighter future!
Good luck!
Thank you for this enlightening post Bill. Much appreciated.
Yes it is a pity, one on one conversation are the best. I guess i will have to get more techno savy. Keep well
Hi Bill, thanks for the post. For me the major change is seeing just how little you need to live comfortably, I do not miss the luxuries in life. From the coaching side, I think the face of coaching is going to change rapidily, I think in 5 years it will all be digital, I know our company has adapted very fast to working from home digitally, it will be a loss, the human one on one contact. What is your view on this?
Hi Chris,
Well I don’t have a crystal ball but my gut tells me that it will be quite some time, if ever, before things return to the way they were pre-virus.
People naturally gravitate towards greater social connection but, as we have seen with the advent of smart phones, this does not necessarily mean closer physical relationships.
So, yes, sad though it seems to many of us, I suspect this event will cause a great (though not total) shift towards more remote, technology-based interactions.
Yes, Bill, this certainly is a golden opportunity for people to get to know and understand themselves better, to learn how to shift their focus, cope more effectively with uncertainty and the unexpected and to master the art of using their strengths to bring out the best in themselves. It is a time to reflect on the quality of our lives by learning valuable lessons from the past in order to realign for the future. Then let us all live in the moment, appreciate everything we have and find ways of sharing with others.
Well said Karen, thank you!