If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that life can change in an instant.
At the beginning of the year, I feel like the world was extraordinarily optimistic. It seemed like the idea that this will be “My Year” had taken on a life of its own. The theme was decidedly 20/20 vision–meaning we would be able to live this new year with a sense of clarity and hope. The previous years had prepared us for just this moment.
Pretty soon, however, we all had our assess handed to us.
New Normal
Between a growing pandemic and the rise in absurdly violent visual racism, the world quickly became much different than any of us could have ever expected. And here we are, eight whole months into the year and life doesn’t seem to be slowing down or have signs of changing back to what we used to know as *normal*.
With that being said, what happens to all of our dreams and goals? How are we supposed to achieve those goals we set in January when preparing and planning for even the following week is uncertain. You see, another lesson 2020 has given us is the realization that adaptation and accommodation skills are key to our survival.
I know, using the word survival seems like a lot…but it’s true.
The things that make a person happy and whole are largely impacted by one’s dreams. whether it’s personal, professional, or financial, what we have planned for our lives and how we’re able to obtain these goals affects us. It affects us mentally and spiritually, which then influences our physical health. It all becomes a vicious, interwoven cycle. So, if something comes in the way of us achieving (or at least making strides towards) our goals, life becomes a bit hectic…to say the least.
Being able to adapt to change has always been an important skill to learn. There’s nothing worse than having one single plan and not knowing what to do when that plan goes awry. Having the ability to problem solve and think through an issue is what takes strategy to the next level.
2020 forced us to step up our game. Danger soared and uncertainty plagues our lives. And as much as we’d like to fix all of the problems we’re facing, it really comes down to us desperately grasping for a sense of normalcy and the comfort that comes with that.
Who Are You?
A good way for us to gain control of our lives is to revisit our life’s mission, vision, and goals.
Mission: What do we hope to ultimately achieve? Who do we hope to impact? How will we make a difference or leave our mark in the world?
Vision: How do we see ourselves achieving ultimate success? What’s the game plan? What resources do we need to acquire? What does it all look like?
Goals: What steps can we take to steadily move us towards our vision and mission? How are we able to know that we are being consistent in our mission? How do we make sure that we keep everything that we do within the scope of our vision?
In an otherwise uncontrollable situation, being reminded of who you are and what you’re about is the best way to find safety and security. And if you’re like me, these times have also forced you to realize that this may have changed. Sure, finding yourself is a journey that we’ll be on for the extent of our life. However, when events such as 2020 happen, a shift in your path is almost always expected.
“On the other side of chaos, is change.“
–Nataya Unique
I, therefore, implore you to reenvision who you are. And those goals that you had for the year, where are you in achieving them? Whether it’s mastering the art of remote communication to excel at work, or discovering ways to keep up with your physical goals without a gym or organized group sports…Find a way to make it happen. What about that goal you had to spend more time nurturing your relationships or your aspirations of travel and experiencing new things, it’s still possible!
How can you reimagine the steps you need to take in order for you to be successful in these goals?
In doing that, we will be making significant strides towards a true 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑵𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍 and less mentally challenging days.