This week, you’re getting the rarity of a back-to-back post from me. I honestly didn’t really have the time to write this second one, but felt compelled to after recent conversations with many of you. I am writing this against 33% laptop battery life, so we’ll see if I actually finish it ( I sometimes do this on purpose to give myself a time limit to work on something, but today is not one of those instances).
The world is inching closer to “opening up” again or at least some version of “open”. Depending on the type of individual that you are or the situation that you currently find yourself, will highly dictate whether that development excites you, terrifies you, or leaves you in a state of anxiety.
Some of you may not have the time to feel any of those things as certain things are moving forward quickly, almost too quickly without leaving you enough time to process fully or digest the next chapter that we are entering into.
Many industries are trying to make up for lost time and one of the harder things of emerging from this pandemic and our individual challenges and limitations is that just as we all went into “at home” mode together, most of us will be exiting this restricted state of being together as well. In short, it may be overwhelming at first--especially if you have many irons in the fire. While initially it may have been passive stoking trying to get something started (especially on the revenue front), your small flame could soon turn into a five-alarm fire of possibilities.
While not everyone has been able to be as productive as they’d hoped during this time, many, many others were and they are ready to go when it comes to creating, producing, and just being active in general. So much so that you may end up committed to various things that are all happening at the same time.
So then what happens?
Well, first of all, take a moment to acknowledge that you are fortunate, for many would like to be facing your dilemma. Secondly, identify what resonates with you most, but also what will benefit you financially. This will require you to go inside and also to get in touch with your gut.
I’ve written about this in the past in various posts, like this one, but I do strongly recommend that the next steps that you take after this re-emergence that we all are lucky enough to make after this Sci-Fi Thriller-meets-Summer Action Blockbuster of sorts that we all lived through should also align with the person that you are TODAY. Not the person that you were pre-pandemic. Most of us have changed or evolved in one way or another.
For some of us, it made us more certain of who we are and what makes us happy (as well as what doesn’t). It also made it easier to identify what work we enjoyed doing and what no longer resonated with us. It made us aware of who we want to be surrounded by and who might not be the best people to give our energy to any longer.
It really helped us to better understand how to set boundaries and to take more time for ourselves to protect our mental health and overall well-being. For the first time in a long time some may even have developed routines or healthier habits.
Lastly, this period may even have strengthened our own moral compass if we’re lucky.
These are all a part of the person that you are at this moment that you should continue to make a priority and take into consideration as you evaluate what your reassimilation into society will look like as well as the projects, roles, collaborations, partnerships, or employment opportunities that you take on. Relationships, whether professional, friendships, or romantic should also be viewed via this same lens and perspective.
Surround yourself with what makes you better, not what you think will make you better. There is a BIG difference.
While you may not have the luxury of a long period to assess and vacillate on if something is right for you or not, I’m willing to bet that you are probably stronger today and know yourself even better now than you did a year ago. Have confidence in that knowledge and do what will serve you now and as you pave your own path forward.
I could give you more advice, but we are now looking at 10% battery left, so I hope this will suffice in giving some of you that much needed boost as we all get through some of our own PTSD and challenges to go back out into a face-to-face #IRL world.
Just remember, the old you no longer is...unless you allow it to be.