How Are You Dealing with the New Normal?

How Are You Dealing with the New Normal?

We live in a constant state of change. Many people are calling it The New Normal because it's now become normal for things to no longer be normal.

Some changes are significant and some aren't. Some changes are obvious and some are inconspicuous—at least at first. Whether it's in our business and career or in our family and home, we need to understand and anticipate—as best we can—what change will mean for us.

There are two simple questions that can help us navigate these waters.

1. What's different from what used to be?

2. What's still the same?

We have a natural tendency to think things are still the way they were. And they usually aren't.

It's easy to get blindsided by something that changed politically, environmentally, socially and culturally. We might have known about the change, but we might not have thought it through to see what the impact would be on us, our business, our family, our finances and our health.

Take a few moments when you can think quietly and answer the two questions above. Dig deep. Think globally as well as locally.

This is not a time to judge what's changed or not changed. It's simply a time to notice and record what you notice.

When you've done this, ask yourself how each thing that's changed has affected you and the various aspects of your life—all the things you care about. How does it affect you? DOES it affect you? How MIGHT it affect you? If the things that have remained the same continue to remain the same, will they be helpful or not? I believe that the greatest lever for change is awareness.

My best sense is that the masses of people don't practice this. And they end up surprised, bewildered and angry.

But as you enter into this practice and do it intentionally over a period of time, you'll find yourself automatically thinking about change and events and how they will likely affect your world.

You will make more and finer distinctions. You will become more aware, wiser, more resourceful—and better able to cope with and exploit change. And that will be different.