Like the statement above, just how are we all reading the unprecedented circumstances that we find ourselves in? The answer to this single question will possibly define the course of our futures as individuals, organisations and even as a society. It is said that crisis creates character and I wonder how the current times will shape us as individuals? What I do know is that not only do we have choices in how we respond to life’s events, we also have the personal power to follow these choices. To get specific, I am choosing to read the above statement as “OPPORTUNITY IS NOW HERE” and I’m determined to find and make these opportunities a reality.
While I do not want to minimise in any way the myriad of severe challenges that we all face in terms of potentially losing loved ones, staying healthy while working in Key Worker roles, fearing or actually being made redundant, being kept apart from relatives and close friends, many of whom are especially vulnerable etc. I chose to believe that there is potential for positive change in the UK going forwards and opportunities for all of us within this.
We are already witnesses to a number of positive changes such as the re-emergence of strong local communities, a concept that has been viewed as in terminal decline for decades. Pollution levels are dropping like a stone almost world-wide. Some family relationships are strengthening beyond expectations; someone told me this week that their teenage kids were now viewing them as both human and interesting people to be around!
We have also started to do things differently and are valuing our time in new ways. Those working from home are wondering how they ever had time to commute, their work life balance has dramatically improved yet they are still getting strong results at work. A number of people have told me that their ‘virtual meetings’ are shorter, more focused and much more efficient. People are shopping for essentials locally and realising the importance of supporting local enterprise. I could go on …
Finally let’s remember that our kids are showing us the way with their rainbows of hope painted wherever passers by can see them. So I want to ask 3 questions that may help us to both see and seize the opportunities of now:
- What am I already doing differently and better that I can take into the ‘new normal world’ whenever that emerges?
- What opportunities could open up for me in terms of my work and/or personal life and how can I make them a reality?
- How can I support some of the positive societal changes e.g. lower pollution levels to stay for the long term?
I would like to challenge all of us to ponder these questions. We have never had such a strong push by events outside of our control or the need, in the words of Blue Giraffe Vision’s strapline, to be #SeeingThingsDifferently
Lucy Hurst-Brown
I love this – as you know, I have struggled with this for a while now, for a variety of reasons… and, as difficult as the last month or so has been, I completely agree there have been many positive changes that I have experienced too!! We were only talking this afternoon about the need re-evaluate how we all work when things go back to ‘normal’!
Can’t wait to talk about these with you!!