This year, we are all poised on a massive professional threshold, waiting to see what a “return to work” actually looks like. Our daily habits and routines have all gone out the window. We’re left in a sort of limbo, fretting over how long it will last and what will come next.
A time of change and transition can be stressful, but it also can be an opportunity for self-reflection, growth, and change. If we approach work and life transitions with the right mindset, they can be hugely rewarding. Here are some ways that you can cope better with uncertainty so you can feel calmer about the future.
Don’t think, just be: The human mind believes falsely that it can think its way through a period of uncertainty. We are convinced that by understanding the source of it, we can somehow fix it. But it doesn’t work that way. On the contrary, by overanalyzing, we are making matters worse, like throwing water on a grease fire in hopes of extinguishing the flames.
Breaking this cycle starts by letting go of the overthinking and getting comfortable with just being and experiencing our emotions as they come. We will not find all the answers to our questions about what is to come, but we will find greater self-discovery and an ability to direct our minds towards more calm, resilience, and focus.
Turn outwards, not inwards: Sadly, to survive a crisis or transition, our minds reject or ignore the very things that would allow us to feel grounded and connected. Instead of reaching out for community and connection, we draw inwards and focus on our own situations versus others.
Breaking this pattern can be as simple as making a compassionate gesture or a phone call to someone who is struggling. A 2016 study found that when we treat others with a gift, we become happier and more resilient than if we gave ourselves the same gift. In this way, caring for others is a wise form of self-interest — especially in a crisis.
The good news is that we can train ourselves to rewire our default psychology and move through the threshold with greater self-awareness, focus, and resilience. For more ideas on how to rewire your default psychology, have a look at this piece from the Harvard Business Review.
