Hi Friend
Yesterday I had an emergency root canal. It was my first one. I experienced progressive pain during the week. Then on Thursday when I went for a run the intensity of the pain magnified and I thought I was going to pass out. Turns out my nerve end was exposed and dying. Even in the smallest parts of our being death and pain are inseparable.
Tuesday was a much better day because I did my first ever Driveway Drop By. They weren’t all driveways, but I got to visit with seven different locations (one of them an office where I chatted with three friends), which gave me a total of NINE HUMAN INTERACTIONS. Ahhhhhhh… It was fabulous! It was a beautiful day too. So good and rejuvenating for my soul!
What’s funny is I didn’t think about bringing a chair, so fortunately Sarah brought me one to use throughout the day. I didn’t have a well laid out plan, but the day flowed more smoothly than I could have hoped. The conversations were rich, enjoyable and deeply satisfying! Being an extrovert cooped up all this time, it was a delightful dopamine overdose!
I don’t recall the last time I had that many face-to-face conversations in one day. There was no agenda or objective. Simply just being in their presence was the goal. The variety of individuals and conversations was exhilarating. It’s like I was…
Binge Humaning
I get why there is pressure to “open society back up” sooner rather than later. Of course the financial component is the primary driver, but the glorious sensation of human interaction is substantial too!
Have you noticed the weeks going by faster? When we first self-quarantined the dragging of minutes and blurring of days was a real thing. Now our work week zips by seemingly faster than when we used to leave the house. Our ability to adapt is rather amazing! We’ve found a pace to our process that enables us to execute our ambitions more fluidly.
It makes me wonder what we could incorporate into our lives if we were willing to go through the agony of adaption? The collective requirement for all of us to “stay at home” has fostered the unique opportunity to establish Work-From-Home proof of concept. Many, many, many organizations said it just wasn’t possible, yet here we are. Many, many, many people said they could never do it, yet look at us go.
I had a conversation with a friend this week about an association conference that was considering canceling this year. No attempt to go virtual, just take their losses and go home. He and I were flabbergasted at the idea. Sure it’s A LOT of work to make the change. Sure, monies will be lost. Sure, it won’t be the same. But come on, those being served are worth the effort, aren’t they?!
Avoiding Adaption Agony
You and I can sincerely justify our unwillingness to reach beyond ourselves, personally and professionally. The common belief is we can start or stop a habit in three weeks. There is no mention however, of the levels of difficulty required depending on what is the attempted acclimation. Between you and me it also feels like it takes at least 30-40 days.
Why we resist:
Awkward. It’s not as simple as change is painful. We feel out-of-sorts when attempting to become something we’re not.
Solution: Incorporate “awkward” as one of your core competencies. When you’re at peace there, you can press forward undistracted.
Unknown. Two biggies: 1) If all the effort will produce what we hope it will and 2) Is it worth the work? This seems to be a powerful dissuader when results don’t appear quick enough.
Solution: Change the narrative from the end result has value to “making the effort” IS the win. Exercising our adaptive muscles definitely pays off.
Energy. It feels like extra. Attempting to become, exhausts and frustrates, draining our limited supply of juju.
Solution: Incorporate, incorporate, incorporate! We’re already exerting enormously just to maintain life. Instead of adaption being an add-on, how can our attempts to be more be inserted in our current endeavors?
Intentions. We always mean to get to something but just never do. Keeping progress as a fantasy instead of a vision, prohibits.
Solution: Be intentional. Chart, map, plan, scheme, strategize.
Adapting isn’t absorption. Being absorbed sucks us in. Adapting is responding to. The former nurtures mediocrity, while the latter gives space for growth.
Instigating Ideas:
1. Identify a regular internal prompt you get for attempting something, that you haven’t yet. Attempt it.
2. Visit someone in person, whom you haven’t seen in a month. Do it from a safe distance.
3. Recognize an adapting resistor and consciously attack it.
4. Write out an excuse you use to not attempt, then write out if you did and succeeded. Where’s the intersection between them?
Being forced to stay at home, has required adapting. It took a bit, but now we’re in a groove. It’s not a “new normal” because this isn’t normal, nor will it be. However, we’ve accessed new ways, skills, ideas and approaches that facilitate our success. Let’s continue facing the agony of adaption, without it being forced, so we can be fulfilled in every way.
I dare you to attempt exerting intentional efforts towards a future hope. I would love to hear how you put practicality into aspiration and not let common resistance thwart your desires. Please Share.
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Our first HOSTING CEOs went smashingly!
We’ve also launched two new services that we haven’t gotten on the website yet.
Virtual Vendors Solution – This is for associations who are moving their conference online but don’t have a good way to engage vendors, that is worthy of charging dollars. We have a customized solution that is pretty cool.
Augmented Reality Retreat – This is an interactive 3 hour online experience designed for leadership teams. It combines multiple elements far beyond a Zoom talking head.
Call or email, if either of those resonate with your world.
Hopefully we’ll get the Virtual page updated this week. If you haven’t been, go see all we’re offering in these modern times.