When The Shift Hits The Fan

Shift Happens! Change, it turns out, is not a tidy process. Anyone who's ever been through a divorce or quit their job or perhaps more commonly now, lost their job, knows that endings are often very messy and starting over can be even more difficult. Or as Marilyn Ferguson, author of The Aquarian Conspiracy put it: It's not so much that we're afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it's that place in between that we fear . . . . It's like being between trapezes. It's Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. There's nothing to hold on to. rnFeeling a little lost, like Linus these days? No wonder! Look where we are! Talk about being in between trapezes! We can't even see if there's another one coming our way. You know that feeling when your stomach suddenly takes up residency in your throat? I think the term for this sensation is "free fall". We're there. rnImagine you've just jumped out of an airplane with no parachute. All you have is a good sized piece of fabric, a needle and some thread. Your task is to make a parachute on the way down and have it completed and opened before you hit the ground. rnSound a bit daunting? OK, this may be a bit too dramatic of an example, but you get the picture. We're in that gap, the void, the great unknown, the space between trapezes. And it's being in this gap that's so challenging to negotiate. Stomach and throat, contact! rnThe change process, while sounding good on paper or in political speeches, is actually quite confounding. Navigating change is like trying to walk through quicksand without being sucked under. Each step needs to be taken mindfully, yet with a sense of urgency. rnThe trick is in knowing just where to place your foot and exactly how fast to move, for the sands are always shifting and every step carries with it the possibility of either triumph or tragedy. You could step into the abyss and disappear, or you could come down on solid ground and live to take another step. rnChange doesn't come with an instruction manual. When the rubber meets the road, all bets are off. We can work hard, plan and prepare and then Life happens. We either end up where we thought we were going or we end up somewhere else. In case of the latter, we get to "pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off", take responsibility and choose again. Assume Responsibility And Move On rnTaking personal responsibility for your choices is a very adult thing to do. A very smart skill to cultivate and effective strategy for moving forward. Even if the situation you find yourself in is completely outside your sphere of control, you are in charge of how you respond to it. Don't waste precious time being a victim. You might get lots of sympathy and comfort from your friends, but all you have at the end of the day is a good story, and nothing changes. rnI'm not saying victim shift doesn't happen. Sure, shift happens. But that's not what makes one a victim. Victims are those who get caught in the story and give up their power to it. rnTaking responsibility when the shift hits the fan, means taking ownership of your results. Accepting responsibility sucks the wind out of the critical voices, including the ones in your head. Nothing will free you from the past and help you move forward faster than taking responsibility for your life NOW. rnBy the way, you get to acknowledge all the accomplishments you're proud of along the way as well. The buck really does stop "here" both in good and in hard times. Please consider sharing what learning opportunities are opening for you out of the current economic crisis. Has the Shift hit the fan yet in your life? What's most challenging for you now? What kind of support would most serve you at this time? rnI'll be exploring this topic more in future posts. rnFor personal contact, I can be reached at judith@theraisinyears.com.