Change
Civil Axe - Memphis, TN
CHANGE is all around us. We see it within the workplace, in our personal lives and in the world at large. Sometimes unexpected change can lead to uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity, and can have a significant impact on our well-being. It can also lead to increased levels of stress, anxiety, lowered self-esteem, lack of motivation and a feeling of helplessness.
However, when we focus our energy on the things we can control and what we can do, this helps increase our sense of wellbeing due to the confidence we gain in our ability to succeed. This in turn leads to greater motivation and productivity, which encourages others to do the same.
On the other hand, if we get stuck on things outside of our control, we tend to become overwhelmed and discouraged. By fixating on things, we cannot change, it leads to decreased motivation, self-doubt.
In short, despite CHANGE taking place around us, focusing on the things we can control leads to increased happiness, success, and productivity both personally and professionally.
A few years ago, I created a group called First Friends in a previous city I lived in. The purpose was for my closest friends and I to set aside time once a month for us to meet up, do an activity, have a meal, and catch up with each other in person. Usually, it was the 1st Saturday of the month, hence the name First Friends. We took turns deciding on the event and the place for our meal. For my month, I chose axe throwing. It was all the craze a few years ago as a place to have an enjoyable time as a group. I had never thrown an axe before, so this was going to be an interesting event.
Our group of ten arrived at the axe throwing facility at the appointed time. We were greeted by an attendant who gave us a quick lesson on single handed axe throwing and double handed overhead axe throwing. I am not sure who decided that having a facility for throwing axes that also serves alcohol was a clever idea, but here we are. My overall goal for us this evening was to have fun, learn something new with my friends and make sure we all left with the same number of fingers and toes that we arrived with.
We started throwing axes and although we got the axe to hit the wall, it did not stick. The axe would hit the wall and fall to the floor. Of course, we had had to throw it harder on the next round. Still no connection. The axe would hit the wall, bounce back, and fall to the floor. This was not fun. We could not get the axe to stick to the wall and on the rare occasion one of us did, it was never a bullseye. What were we missing?
I thought about what the axe throwing attendant said to us when we walked in, and he realized that none of us had ever thrown an axe before. Here is what he said: “Throwing an axe will be a change for you. It will be unlike anything you have ever done before. I invite you to take a deep breath, take a step forward toward the target, lean in, completely commit to the throw and then let it go.” It was not until we started following those simple instructions that often, all of us experienced the thrill of getting the axe to stick to the target and many times it was a bullseye.
Wait a minute. Did the axe throwing attendant just teach us a life lesson when it comes to Change, especially Change that we cannot control but it is inevitable? Take a deep breath, lean into the change, fully commit to it, and then let it go! As humans, we tend to seek comfort and stability. When things change, it disrupts that sense of security, and many struggle with the loss of the familiar, even if the change could lead to something better. We must lean in so we can develop a more positive and growth-oriented mindset when it comes to change!
Take care of yourself and each other!
