PACKING THE “POSSIBLES BAG” FOR CHANGE

Last week, I talked about being open to the potential of change and explored eight ‘potentials,’ eight possibilities that come about as a result of change:  opportunity, time to grow, flexibility, improvement, strength, new beginnings, chances to ‘rise to the occasion,’ and seeing things through a different lens.   As I wrote that post, I kept thinking about a mountain man’s “possibles bag.”

A mountain man is a male trapper and explorer who lives in the wilderness.  Mountain men were most common in the North American Rocky Mountains from about 1810 through the 1880s.  Many mountain men were employed by Fur Trading companies to trap beaver and other animals for their fur (think Jim Bridger and Kit Carson).  When trapping was no longer lucrative mountain men served as guides for the pioneers making their way west.

    

                                                                          Jim Bridger                                      Kit Carson

Considering the life of mountain man, it was necessary that critical items be carried at all times, so a staple of a mountain man became the “possibles bag.”  The “possibles bag” contained everything that could possibly be needed for the day:  black powder, powder measurer, flint and steel, lead balls, knives, and some personal items. Other items might include tools for trap repair, tobacco, sugar, and items to trade with native tribes.  While several items were common to all “possibles bags,” every bag had its own unique contents that reflected the character of its owner. 
Some changes have us “roaming the wilderness,” that area where the old and the new overlap. I liken this wilderness to what the early pioneers felt when they ventured beyond their “comfort zone.”   For them, there was a lot of confusion with new sights, sounds, and experiences.  The rules they followed in their former place no longer applied, yet new rules for this new territory, this “wilderness,” had not yet been established.  The further they got on their journey, they could no longer see where they came from and they couldn’t see exactly where they were going.  At times there was probably a sense of feeling lost and at other times these pioneers had to gain a new sense of direction.  There had to be much fear of the unknown in the new, the changed environment.

     

Leaving the comfort zone                                 Heading into the wilderness

After ending something and letting go, how can you tell if you are in the wilderness?  If you are excited and overwhelmed by the possibilities after ending something or letting go, you have probably “crossed over” into the wilderness.  Others ways to tell include a feeling of being lost and scared of making a wrong decision or choosing the wrong path; a strong desire to try something different;  a constant worry or concern about the future;  and/or, the sense that the change is a good one, but you just don’t know  you are going to make it work.

 

Why, if this neutral zone is so “wild” and further engenders confusion and fear is it important when dealing with change?  It is because out of the confusion and fear, new ideas, new discoveries, reorientations, and creativity take center stage and help propel those undergoing the change toward something they might be able to accept, something that might make their life better.  We all “roam the wilderness” with change.  If the change is minor, we might not even realize that we’ve moved from ending something, moved through the “wilderness,” and started a new beginning.  However, if the change is major or seismic, we might spend considerable time in the “neutral zone.”

So, here is where the concept of a “possible bag” comes in.  Just as the mountain men needed to carry with them at all times everything they would need for the day, so too should we carry with us things we need to help us deal with and get through the “wilderness” phase of our change.

And, just as several items were common to all mountain men “possibles bags,” so too should our “change possibles bags” contain items necessary for our “survival.”  What are these, you ask?  Our “change possibles bags” should contain:  persistence, enthusiasm, positive mental attitude, sense of humor, a new style of thinking, vision, and patience.

Persistence.  Persistence is dogged determination, tenacity, perseverance.  It is the ability to keep on going no matter what one may be facing or how one feels about the situation.  Why should our “possibles bag” contain persistence?   When we get overwhelmed by what is happening or paralyzed by being forced out of the comfort zone, it is easy for us to just give in or give up.  Neither of those is an option when change is upon us.  Neither of those helps us in dealing with what faces us.  It is our ability to keep moving forward, to persist, even in the face of adversity that will help us continually move forward.

When we are not excited by a change or are fearful of what the change might bring, it is easy to lose sight of where we are going or to lose motivation for what we are doing.   Persistence helps us maintain action and helps us produce results.  While there may be comfort for us in the past or the old, we can’t get rooted in it.  We need to be able to continually move forward despite the difficulties created by the change.  Persistence helps us become resolute in doing this; it gives us the resolve to go on; it provides the drive.

Enthusiasm.    Enthusiasm is defined as intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval.  Enthusiasm focuses on the need to remain positive and upbeat at all times.  Again, think about what happens when we encounter change.  Something is different; things may be chaotic; we are being moved away from our comfort zone.  Whenever there is change, issues will arise and it is easy to give up and give in to the “issue.”  Enthusiasm needs to be a staple in our “possibles bag” because if we can maintain excitement and enthusiasm, we are able to effectively deal with whatever issue the change may be presenting.

When dealing with change, enthusiasm can make the difference between success and failure.  If we mope and fight the change, we may be doomed.  If we cope and look for ways to co-exist with the change, we will thrive.  Coping and co-existing with change may mean we need to be creative to do so, and enthusiasm can generate creativity which can lead to innovation which can lead to coming up with ways of effectively and positively dealing with change.

Enthusiasm is contagious and can spread from person to person quickly and easily.  It is difficult to be around someone who is positive, upbeat, and has a zest for life without some of that same feeling catching hold to us.  This is always a good thing when one is dealing with something that is stressful or chaotic or unpleasant.

Positive Mental Attitude.   A positive mental attitude is the belief that one can increase achievement through optimistic thought processes.  Our “possibles bag” needs to contain this because with those who make use of this state of mind continually seek to find ways to win, to overcome, to find a desirable outcome no matter what the circumstances.   A positive attitude brings optimism into one’s life. This attitude helps fight negativity, undue worrying, and a feeling of hopelessness.  When struggling with change, a positive attitude:   helps us expect success (vs. failure), inspires us, gives us strength to continue and not give up, makes us see the opportunities and blessings in challenges and problems, strengthens our belief in ourselves and our abilities, gives us confidence (to persist and persevere), and produces energy.

Sense of Humor.  A sense of humor highlights the need to laugh a lot, laugh often, and to lighten the day with levity.  A sense of humor also means that we are able to see the humor in the craziness of life.  With this in our “possibles bag,” we are better able to preserve our sanity when  things get chaotic or we get overwhelmed with the stress that might come with change and transition.  Using our sense of humor is a very effective coping mechanism and an easy stress management technique.

There is no doubt that there are many challenges when dealing with change and transition.  When our comfort zone shifts, it is easy to feel as if the world has fallen out from under us.   A sense of humor can help us feel as if we are on firm ground again and help shift us back into or closer to our comfort zone.  Laugher is often the result when we exercise our sense of humor.  Laughing can help us deal with the most difficult of situations.

When undergoing change and transition, we sometimes feel as if we have no control; the forces of change have taken away our “power.”  Stress and tension are a result of this.  A sense of humor has a way of putting us back in the driver’s seat; of helping regain some control, of dispelling the tension, and of relieving the stress.  Because change and transition are often accompanied by emotional and mental stress, humor and its accompanying laughter help keep our emotional, mental, and even physical health in balance.  Humor can help us develop: peace of mind, hopefulness, joy, cheerfulness, resilience, an uplifted spirit, and a good sense of life.

A good sense of humor can also help us keep things in perspective.  If we remember that we aren’t the only ones undergoing changes and transitions, having a sense of humor about life’s difficulties can help us become closer to those dealing with the same or a similar situation.  In a way, this helps bring a measure of “normalcy” to what one is experiencing.  Whatever we may be dealing with may not seem so overwhelming or frightening.
New style of thinking.  Dealing with the unexpected is one of the most difficult things anyone can face.  And, change certainly can bring about a lot of “unexpected.”  The unexpected moves us out of our comfort zone before we realize what is happening.  When faced with the unforeseen, traditional or logical thinking may not provide us with the best option to deal with the situation.  We may be better served thinking creatively or divergently.   A new style of thinking should be in our “possibles bag” because following the crowd may not be the best way to deal with change.  Sometimes we have to march to the beat of a different drummer and a new style of thinking (or divergent thinking or irreverent thinking or innovative thinking – you can pick the term) helps us do so.

When we are in the midst of an overhaul or decision making that may have a long-term effect, doing so with the ‘old way of thinking’ may not result in a satisfactory outcome. Albert Einstein said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”  So, in an overhaul or a quick decision situation, a new style of thinking may be required to prevent us from appearing (or going) insane.  A new style of thinking presents a method of decision making that goes beyond the conventional; the ‘same old, same old.’ Please note that there is nothing wrong with conventional ways of doing things or making decisions when in a status quo situation.  But, when faced with change and transition that present major differences, what worked in the old may not work in the new. In a changed environment, when we start “getting down on ourselves” because things just aren’t working out, they may not be working out because we are doing what Anthony Robbins indicates, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”

Viewing things from a new angle is important when attempting to successfully navigate the seas of change.  Remember, if we want the end result to be different, our actions and decisions must also be different. However, the difference may come about by doing something as simple as tweaking what we already have.

Vision.  Vision is a vivid mental image.   The image is usually something that you want to see happen.  With change, something becomes different. We are moved out of the comfort zone. Both our personal and professional lives can become unsettled.  Having a vision of what one wants is a way of helping us deal with the unsettled nature of things. If we can picture something happening and really desire that to happen, we might work hard to make that image, that vision come true.   In dealing with change, vision is what provides direction to one moving toward a “new beginning.”  Vision needs to be in our “possibles bag” because it provides purpose and meaning and in doing so, gives hope, enthusiasm, importance, and inspiration to what we hope to accomplish or what we hope to be. 
Our vision gives us possibilities. Our vision should be BIG; small ones cannot ignite the flames of enthusiasm, excitement, and passion. Remember, anything that can be imagined can become reality under the right circumstances.

Patience.  Patience is the level of endurance one exhibits under difficult circumstances.  Oftentimes, we may feel that a change we have experienced has brought with it a set of circumstances that we find difficult; with which we struggle.   We want things to return to “normal” or to have a feel of “normalcy” and we want that RIGHT NOW.  But, some things need time to work themselves out; rushing things may be the worst thing that can happen.  So, patience is a necessity in our “possibles bag” because it gives us a “cooling off” period; some time with which to reflect and accept what has happened; time to think.  Having patience means we don’t make hasty decisions.  Patience allows us to regain some control over the situation.  It gives us an opportunity to look at all the variables and the time to pick and choose what needs to be done to help us move forward, especially move forward toward the vision we’ve created for ourselves and the changed environment.

In my “change possibles bag,” I would have persistence, enthusiasm, positive mental attitude, sense of humor, a new style of thinking, vision, and patience.  These are the items that I feel I would need to survive the “wilderness” phase of my change.  Would your “change possibles bag” contain all or most of these?  What else might you put in yours?

If you are in the midst of a change that has had something end and you find yourself in the “wilderness,” in the “neutral zone,” in the space that is in between what was and what will be, I encourage you to make sure that your “possibles bag” has some things in it that help you deal with the confusion that is often in this space; deal with the sense of feeling lost; deal with all the emotions and feelings; and, deal with the unknown.  It will make all the difference for you!

MASTERING CHANGE WITH A CAN-DO ATTITUDE

Over the past several weeks, we’ve explored types of thinking (irreverent thinking, new style of thinking or thinking beyond the conventional, and innovative thinking) and qualities (ingenuity and resourcefulness) that help us solve problems and meet challenges when dealing with change and transition. This week, we are going to focus on our mindset, our attitude when change and transition enter our lives.

OK. Raise your hand if you remember the children’s book The Little Engine That Could. For those not familiar with the story, there is a little train filled with good things – toys, food, candy -that suddenly stops. A passenger train with a shiny new engine passes and when asked to help replies, “,,,I pull the likes of you? Indeed not!” Next comes a freight train with a big engine and when asked to help the little train, it replies, “… I am a very important engine indeed. I won’t pull the likes of you!” Another train comes along. It is a rusty, old, tired engine. When asked to pull the little train, it replies, “I am so tired. I must rest my weary wheels. I cannot pull even so little a train as yours over the mountain. I can not. I can not. I can not.” Finally, a little blue engine comes by and the plea for help is once again made. It replies, “I’m not very big. They use me only for switching trains in the yard. I have never been over the mountain.” The little train pleaded and the blue engine said, “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.” The blue engine hitched herself to the little train and kept saying, “I think I can.” The blue engine was successful in getting the little train to the top of the mountain and all the way down the other side, it said, “I thought I could. I thought I could. I thought I could.”

The blue engine is a perfect example of something that demonstrated a can-do attitude. A can-do attitude can be defined as a process of convincing your mind that you can do everything. It is about believing in yourself that you are capable of being successful in what you plan to do. It’s about finding ways to make things happen instead of making excuses about why things can’t happen. It’s the ability of overcoming problems and obstacles that come in the way of success. This type of attitude is characterized by an eager willingness to accept and meet challenges.

A can-do attitude is one of the keys to successfully negotiating change. When you have a can-do attitude, you believe in yourself. You are more willing to be proactive, to take action, which is needed when dealing with change and transition.

I have two stories to illustrate how a can-do attitude can help you negotiate change.  First, in my May 12 post on HOW DREAMING BIG HELPS MANAGE CHANGE, I introduced you to my cousin, Adam, who played football in college and who had his sights set on playing in the NFL.  In the May 19 post on WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS, WILL YOU BE READY TO OPEN THE DOOR, I shared that while Adam had not been selected in the draft, he had been invited to several NFL teams’  mini-camps as well as to special “screening” with one team.   While he did well at all of these, there was still no invitation to join a team.   Instead of giving up, Adam adopted a CAN-DO ATTITUDE.  He continued to work out, focusing on what would make him stronger, faster, better at his position of tackle.  He certainly kept his focus on what he wanted and what it would take to get him there.  He was like the blue engine who kept saying, “I think I can.  I think I can.  I know I can.  I know I can.”   Well, his can-do attitude paid off.  On July 31 he got the call he had been waiting for.  On July 31, he got picked up by the New York Giants and last night, August 3, he played  in his first NFL game!  Adam believed in himself; he believed he was capable of being a successful football player.  He worked to make his dream happen.  He definitely mastered change in his life with a can-do attitude!

My second story, about another athlete, was shared with me by a workshop participant.  It is so relevant to our current discussion. In the early 2000s, a women’s professional tennis player, Nadia Petrova, was having a spectacular tennis season, either winning or playing for the championship in several tournaments. A TV interviewer interviewed Nadia’s new coach and mentioned that Nadia, who was rated in the top twenty players in past years, was fast becoming one of the top five players in the world. The interviewer asked Nadia’s coach about this, and the coach said, “In the past, Nadia had people around her that concentrated on what she ‘can’t do.’ So Nadia would concentrate on what she couldn’t do, especially in challenging situations on the court, and it would frustrate her. I am concentrating on what she ‘can do,’ and she is a much better, confident player and is mentally much happier.” So I ask you, do you concentrate on the “can’t dos” or the “can dos?”

Your attitude toward change counts for a lot. There are four basic attitudes that make or break successful change:

• The “Can and Will” Attitude
• The Can and Won’t Attitude
• The Can’t and Will Attitude
• The Can’t and Won’t Attitude

As you might imagine, people with the can and will attitude negotiate change in their lives with the greatest success.  Which attitude currently describes you? If it isn’t “can and will,” let’s explore how you can move yourself in that direction.

1.Set Can Do Goals. Set goals that move you toward successful results. People fail because they don’t know what they want or what they don’t want.

2.Set S-M-A-R-T (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely) goals that create a clear roadmap for your success and then, work to achieve these goals every day.

3.Take Care of Your N-E-T-S (Network with Everyone Today for Success). Fill your NETS with positive people that will support your positive “can do” attitude. These people, while supporting your goals, will also help you pass roadblocks to achieve your goals. Clean your NETS of people who have a “can’t do,” negative attitude, and who don’t support your quest to achieve your goals. The more junk (negative people) in your NETS, the less room you have for more treasure (positive people). Keep your NET strong with positive people.

4. Choose ‘I can do it!’ as your life motto.

5.Look at any  failure as a stepping stone to success, as an opportunity to learn and improve. Go outside your comfort zone by trying something different. Keep trying new things until you succeed.

6.Always be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem. See all problems and stressful situations as challenges and opportunities. Remember, life  is an adventure. Be always enthusiastic about it and all that it brings.

7.Concentrate on the Positive. Recent research shows that 75-80% of daily communication is negative. This would include negative self-talk, conversations with others, or the media (TV, radio, the internet, etc.). Take back control of your mind and be responsible for your “can do” attitude. (Watch for a future post that will provide ways to help you focus on the positive.)

As Denis Waitley says, “If you believe you can, you probably can. If you believe you won’t, you most assuredly won’t. Belief is the ignition switch that gets you off the launching pad.”  Be like the little blue engine and no matter what you are facing in the wake of change and transition, tell yourself, “I think I can. I think I can.” Pretty soon you will be saying, with a smile on your face, “I thought I could. I thought I could. I thought I could!”

LESSONS LEARNED FROM MacGYVER ABOUT DEALING WITH THE CHALLENGES OF CHANGE

To date this month, we’ve been focusing on strategies which help us think differently in times of change and transition. We’ve covered irreverent thinking, a new style of thinking or thinking beyond the conventional, and innovative thinking. This week we shift focus to the quality of ingenuity (or the quality of being resourceful). But, because ingenuity often requires creative thinking, it provides a new transition strategy for the skills set we are developing for staying sane and positive amid change.

Ingenuity is defined as the quality of being clever, original, inventive, and resourceful. Ingenuity is a component in the process of applying ideas to solve problems or meet challenges (just what we need to be doing in times of change and transition).

Many of you will recall the television show MacGyver, about a guy whom I consider a model for ingenious solutions to challenging situations. He routinely disarmed bombs with paperclips and used gum wrappers to fix fuses. While most of what MacGyver did seems far-fetched, there is a lot to be said for his out-of-the-box, unconventional, divergent thinking.

How can the quality of ingenuity or being resourceful help in times of change? When things change, they become different. Some changes are so major that our world gets rocked and we lose our comfort zone. How things were done or accomplished prior to the change may not work in the new environment. Being ingenious, being resourceful means that we have the ability to approach the new, the changed in different ways; we can pursue solutions from more than one direction.

Resourcefulness is about optimizing what you have to work with. It is not just about creating something new; it also applies to making old things work better or work to your advantage. Imagination plays a HUGE role in being ingenious and resourceful. Imagination is the ability to form a mental image of something that is not perceived through the senses. It is the ability of the mind to build mental scenes, objects or events that do not exist, are not present or have happened in the past.

I had to be very ingenious and resourceful when I once lost one of my dad’s favorite fishing lures. When my parents retired, they did so to a small community in the NW corner of Pennsylvania. Close to their property was a fishing pond that everyone in the area could enjoy. After casting with my dad’s favorite lure, I sat back to await the tug of a fish on the line. Instead of a fish, I snagged a bunch of weeds and got the lure hopelessly tangled in the weeds. Not wanting to tell my dad what happened (although the veteran fisherman that he was, he would have understood), I decided to try and retrieve the lure. The lure was too far out for me to walk and get it (and the water was too cold to think about swimming for the lure). There wasn’t a rowboat in the area. BUT, there was an old mortar box near the lake. So, I turned the mortar box into a boat, used a stick as a paddle, and “rowed” on out to the weed patch and the lure.

It wasn’t long before I figured out that someone must have abandoned the mortar box – water was filling the bottom from numerous holes and cracks. I was persistent and continued to venture to the bunch of weeds where I did successfully retrieve the lure. I also had luck on my side as I made it back to shore (more wet than when I started) safely. And, I arrived back with the lure. Resourcefulness/ingenuity saved the day and my dad’s lure.

Imagination gives us the ability to look at any situation from a different point of view. A few hours each week, I work in the Scott Township Jazzercise Fitness Center’s child care room with young children. One day, I had several girls who wanted to be doctors. They were very resourceful in creating an environment for this.   Under a table served as the hospital emergency room. Chairs were lined up for the patients. A mat was placed on the floor and served as the bed. Items from the Craftsman work bench were transformed into medical supplies: Philips-head screw drivers were syringes; pliers became stethoscopes; the vice, a blood pressure device. (And when the goggles and tool belt went on when one of the girls was going to perform surgery, I had to stifle a hearty laugh!)

Imagination is a creative power that helps with doing just about anything. It is a creative power critical to tap into in times of change. In times of change, channeling our inner child and our MacGyver may propel us to satisfying solutions.

How can we develop MacGyver’s ingenuity or our inner child’s imagination? Try these techniques:

1.  Give yourself the “third degree.” Ask:

Is there another way to get what I want?

Is the desired result really the best result?

Who else has information that might help me?

What is something very similar to what I need that might also work?

Who is the expert in this area?

Is there more than one way to look at or deal with the issue?

What would someone I admire do in this same situation? (WWMD- What Would MacGyver Do?)

2.  Maintain an open mind. Being open minded about new possibilities is critical to implementing resourcefulness. Develop a curiosity about things. Expose yourself to new ideas and new experiences. 

3. Develop resourceful habits. Consider alternate uses for an object before throwing it out. Redecorate a room using things you already have. Recycle old calendar pages to create personalized cards.

4. Question tradition and habits. Sometimes the way something is always done (habits, traditions, learned rules) can be a “block” to being ingenious or resourceful. Sometimes creativity requires us to go beyond the conventional.

5. “Don’t worry…be happy”As the song says, “Don’t worry…be happy.” The more relaxed you are, the better you will be able to think creatively. Take the stress and pressure off yourself.

6. Don’t reinvent the wheel Look for a solution that someone else has already created. Start there and tweak what is out there to fit your needs.

7. Make your network work for you. Build and maintain a network of people you can call on for questions and support.

Being ingenious, being resourceful will help you avoid, as Einstein says, the insanity of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. It will give you an edge in problem solving and in meeting challenges. It will be of particular help if you are “roaming the wilderness” (see the June 16 blog post).   If you haven’t used your imagination in a while, haven’t had to be resourceful, you might just surprise yourself with your actions and the outcome!

APPROACHING CHANGE AND TRANSITION THROUGH INNOVATIVE THINKING

When change and transition are upon us, I can’t stress enough the importance of thinking differently; of using novel approaches to deal with and face what the change or transition presents. We’ve spent the past two weeks exploring strategies that help us think differently in times of change: irreverent thinking and new style of thinking (or thinking beyond the conventional). This week’s strategy is innovativeness and while similar to irreverent thinking and new style of thinking, it provides a slightly different twist giving yet another way to stay sane and positive amidst the change.

By definition, an innovation is the introduction of something new (idea, method, process, service, product, or device) that by using, allows one to do something different. There are many lists of notable innovators. My personal list includes Christiann Barnard, Florence Nightingale and Alexander Fleming for influencing the world of medicine; Archimedes, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein and the Wright Brothers for altering the direction of science; Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg for revolutionizing technology; and, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, and Henry Ford for transforming the status quo. So, what does all this have to do with dealing with change and transition? Just as those on my personal list of innovators had to look at common items and see something different, so must we if the expectation is to positively and successfully ‘survive’ the changes and transitions that we encounter.

Innovativeness requires us to think across borders and through boundaries. Innovativeness is a way of thinking that questions and challenges prevailing thought and opens us up to numerous solutions rather than just the way something has always been done.   Innovativeness permits us to exceed our own expectations. When we are innovative, we are creative. When we are creative, we think “outside the box;” we use our imagination. Thinking or acting in an innovative way and with a purpose may be just what it takes to propel us through the change and its transitions to a new beginning.

The nine dots puzzle (challenge is to connect the dots by drawing four straight, continuous lines through each of the nine dots without lifting the pencil from the paper) is frequently used to demonstrate the need to think outside the box because one of the many solutions to the puzzle is to go beyond the boundaries of the area created by the nine dots to link all dots in four straight, continuous lines. (See end of post for puzzle solution.)

I tried to use ‘out of the box thinking’ when I was a classroom teacher. Once when teaching a middle school math class to a group of special education students (I was giving coming attractions to a class on what was next in math) everyone moaned and groaned when I mentioned fractions. “They’re hard,” I would hear. Others offered, “I’ve never been able to understand fractions.” So one day, during a language arts class, I had the students read a recipe and make the recipe (we made no bake candy). I made sure one group had to half the ingredients and another decrease their recipe by a quarter. While the students indulged in their final products, I did a lesson summary and announced that they had just used fractions to make their candy. “No way,” I heard. “That was easy.” Indeed, I told them, fractions are easy once we know the trick to handling them. By providing the class with a creative activity, it took no time for their pre-conceived notions and fears about fractions to fade away.

Thinking creatively, thinking in an innovative way allows us to overcome the fear we might experience with the change/transition. Being innovative also helps us avoid getting into a rut with our thinking; it helps create a new routine with our way of thinking about and approaching what faces us. If you really want to be successful in the changed environment, you must change the routine way of doing things so that the results are different and meet the desire needs or goals.

This strategy of innovativeness also helps us deal with change and transition because it challenges us to put aside comfortable habits and try something new (both of which are vital to remain sane and positive in times of change and transition). The shift from our comfort zone may have us falling back and relying on old habits rather than trying something new. In conducting workshops on change, I frequently have participants do an activity that illustrates how habits interfere with listening. For example, I might say, “Papa Bull, Mama Bull, and Baby Bull are out in the pasture. Baby Bull gets hurt. Who does Baby Bull run to for help?” Most will answer, “Mama Bull” coming from a stereotypical view and a traditional habit of thinking that children will first run to their moms for help. What they fail to realize is there are no female bulls, so baby bull would run to Papa Bull.

How can we cultivate this strategy, this skill of innovativeness? Here are a few techniques. (More can be found in the book Facing the Sunshine and Avoiding the Shadows: Strategies to Stay Sane and Positive amid Change.)

1. Practice seeing things differently. A cloud is just a cloud is just a cloud. Not so. Really look at clouds. There are so many different shapes and figures. I frequently can see dragons, dinosaurs, faces, and flowers. Cloud “art” is a great way to get one’s mind to think differently about things. After ‘floating in the clouds’ for a while, return to reality and apply the technique to the situation at hand.

Just a cloud or angel wings?

2. Develop a creative uses for common things list. Take an object and think of all the potential uses for it: traditional, standard, absurd, silly. For example, ice cube trays can also be used to organize jewelry, office supplies, small Christmas ornaments, and small items. (An egg carton can serve the same purpose.) Muffin tins can become a caddy for craft, sewing, or other small items. Think about gift boxes. They can also be used as pull out “drawers” in deep cupboards; small boxes can be used to store paper clips, pencils, etc. in drawers. They also double as cupcake carriers (cut crosses into the box lid or bottom). This is a wonderful activity to get the creative juices flowing.

3. Have a sounding board. Talk through ideas that address the issue or situation. Throw out one idea and ask a friend to add something to it. (Remember Drew Carey’s show Whose Line Is It Anyway? They did routines where someone would begin a story and when a sound was made that person stopped talking and the next person would have to continue the story. A similar technique will work wonders for generating creative ideas.)

 

4.  Ask a young child for suggestions. Children are naturally unconventional thinkers. When trying to be innovative, a young child’s take on an issue (presented to them in a way they would understand) might provides a spark of    creativity that provides just what is need for the issue at hand.

Because how we think and approach change is so vital, try being innovative the next time you struggle with a change or transition in your life. Question and challenge prevailing thought and the status quo. Shake things up by thinking outside the box. Tap into your inner child and use your imagination. You will be surprised and pleased by the results.

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Example of a solution to the nine-dot puzzle, showing how one must go outside the boundaries of the dots to successfully solve the puzzle.

 

 

 

WHY CHANGE REQUIRES A NEW STYLE OF THINKING

Last week, we began a series on different types of thinking that can help us deal with change in a positive manner. Our topic last week was irreverent thinking. This week, we will discuss what I call ‘a new style of thinking.’ In watching an episode of the old TV show JAG this week, one of the JAG lawyers was advised by the Judge Advocate General to think outside the box to bring a positive resolution to a ‘sticky’ situation. Thinking outside the box is exactly what is needed when we use a new style of thinking. Here’s why.

Albert Einstein said, “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” When change and transition happen, something becomes different. Sometimes the differences are minor and present no need to alter the way of doing things or thinking (someone repaints a room in their home). Sometimes the differences are major (car breaks down and needs a big-time, costly repair) causing us to make a quick decision, but one that could have a long-term effect (on family, budget, transportation needs). And, other times the differences are seismic (finding one suddenly single or finding one out of a job) creating the need to overhaul how things are done, how one thinks, or how decisions are made. When we are in the midst of an overhaul or decision making that may have a long-term effect, doing so with the ‘old way of thinking’ may not result in a satisfactory outcome. Albert Einstein said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” So, in an overhaul or a quick decision situation, a new style of thinking may be required to prevent us from appearing (or going) insane.

The strategy of new style of thinking presents a method of decision making that goes beyond the conventional; the ‘same old, same old.’ Please note that there is nothing wrong with conventional ways of doing things or making decisions when in a status quo situation. But, when faced with change and transition that present major differences, what worked in the old may not work in the new. In a changed environment, when we start “getting down on ourselves” because things just aren’t working out, they may not be working out because we are doing what Anthony Robbins indicates, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”

Losing weight may be a goal, but eating and exercise habits remain the same. Saving money is a goal, but style of spending remains the same. Trimming the budget at work is desired, but staffing and services don’t change. Demands at work are increasing, but there are still only 24 hours in a day. In these situations, we are not going to get desired results by perpetuating the ‘same’ or by just working harder. We must work and think smarter; work and think differently.

Rosabeth Moss Kanter (is a professor of business at Harvard Business School, where she holds the Ernest L. Arbuckle Professorship; she is also director and chair of the Harvard University Advanced Leadership Initiative) once nominated the kaleidoscope as a symbol companies should use for the global information era because it symbolized ever-changing patterns and endless new possibilities, both of which are guided by the human imagination. Kanter’s kaleidoscopic thinking provides a wonderful model for a new style of thinking; for thinking and approaching decision making differently especially when dealing with change or needing to create change. She says, “Creativity is a lot like looking at the world through a kaleidoscope. You look at a set of elements, the same ones everyone else sees, but then reassemble those floating bits and pieces into an enticing new possibility.” The notion of forming new patterns from existing information or resources is so simple, yet something we might not normally consider doing.

Viewing things from a new angle is important when attempting to successfully navigate the seas of change. Remember, if we want the end result to be different, our actions and decisions must also be different. However, the difference may come about by doing something as simple as tweaking what we already have. (One time, I was trying to reorganize items under the kitchen sink to better use the space. I wanted to put plastic grocery bags in a storage unit drawer, but the unit took up too much space when I placed it on its bottom. However, when I turned it on its side, it fit beautifully.)

OK. I can hear you saying, “Becky, this makes sense, but how do I go about developing a new style of thinking?” Here are a few techniques:

1.  Practice kaleidoscopic thinking. Take all the pieces for the situation (write out the pieces on index cards) and play with arranging them in different configurations.

2. Put on the critical thinking cap. When one thinks critically, the situation is analytically evaluated. This helps with bringing out different points of view related to the situation. Challenge and analyze what the motivation for doing something is, what thought processes are being used in the decision making, and what conclusions are being derived. Use reflection throughout the analysis. Ask: Could I be wrong? What assumptions am I making? Are the assumptions correct? Are there other explanations? Other perspectives? Other viewpoints? Seek out evidence to support ideas, beliefs, and conclusions.

 

3. Use the ‘challenge card.’ Reflect on the points of view, statements, claims, arguments. Can weaknesses in each be identified? If so, what does that do to the situation? Are other explanations possible?

 

 

4. Practice ‘parachute thinking.’ Parachutes only work when they are open. In using a new style of thinking, keep an open mind and be willing to change it based on the evidence. Ask what it would take to create a mindset change.

5. Gain a fresh perspective. Visit someone or someplace to experience something different from the norm. This may provide new ideas or a way of taking the ‘kaleidoscopic piece’ of one’s life and helping with the rearrangement. Talk to someone who has a totally different point of view on the issue or situation. (Think of the story of the blind men and the elephant. Depending on what part of the elephant was touched, the perspective on what the elephant was like, differed. Look at the pieces of the situation in this manner to help gain other perspectives.)

When we find ourselves in a situation where conventional thinking or actions just aren’t doing the trick, remember Einstein’s advice (we can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them) and switch to a new style of thinking. Adopt the kaleidoscope as your model for the new style of thinking and keep rearranging the pieces of your situation to come up with a new, different, and workable solution.

 

THE RIGHT TOOLS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD!

As is typical when my family gets together, we spend a lot of time reminiscing about days gone by and delighting in telling stories of some of the antics in which we engaged. This past weekend was no exception. A lot of our memories focused on holiday gatherings with Thanksgiving stories winning out.

One of my favorite Thanksgiving tales begins with driving to my parents’ home in NW Pennsylvania in a snowy blizzard (I mean, white out conditions where at times, the only thing keeping me on the road was the tail lights of the car in front of me). I did arrive safely and while the blizzard tapered off, the snow continued to fall throughout the night. That Thanksgiving Day dawned clear and bright and with a foot of snow on the ground. To help my parents out, I went out early to clear the driveway. As luck would have it, the snow blower WOULD NOT start. Not seeing a snow shovel in the garage, I began my task with an old coal shovel. I seemed to be making headway, heaving shovel full after shovel full of snow. After heaving one pile of snow, I was left with only the shovel handle in my hand! The shovel portion had flung itself off with the snow. I kept thinking that if I only had the right tools, what a difference that would make with this chore.

Having the right tools helps in any situation, whether it is shoveling snow, building a house, preparing a meal, or dealing with change. Yes, even when dealing with change. Having the right tools – the right strategies – is especially helpful when we are faced with change, particularly a seismic change in our lives. In my book, Facing the Sunshine and Avoiding the Shadows: Strategies to Stay Sane and Positive amid Change, I provide 16 tools, 16 strategies that help when one is dealing with change. The strategies, built around the acronym PRESERVING SANITY, are:

Persistence	the ability to keep on going no matter what one may be facing or how one feels about the situation
Relationships	our friendships and having people in our lives with whom we can interact
Enthusiasm	the need to remain positive and upbeat at all times
Sense of Humor	the need to laugh a lot, laugh often, and to lighten the day with levity
Ending Something	learning to let go; giving up what is to get what one wants
Roaming the Wilderness	spending some time in a “neutral zone,” where the old and new overlap, to discover what is acceptable in the changed environment
Vision	the power of anticipating that which may come to be
Irreverent Thinking	divergent thinking; thinking that goes beyond conventional wisdom
Negotiating Roadblocks	ability to change course and direction when obstacles are in the way of our life’s journey
Giggling	laughing; expressing positive emotions such as happiness, joy, relief
Savoring Mistakes	errors that are viewed as learning opportunities; adjustments to the original plan
Atta Persons	showing others that they are appreciated and giving ourselves the occasional pat on the back
New Style of Thinking	a method of decision making that goes beyond the conventional
Innovativeness	the use of novel approaches to deal with and face what the change presents; something new that allows one to do something differently
Taking Risks	doing something that helps achieve a desired solution, but in which there is a lack of certainty about the outcome and/or a fear of failure
You Have to Dream Big	dreams signify something about which one might fantasize; a desire; an aspiration

How we respond to change is sometimes more important than what happens to us in the changed environment. Oftentimes, the change is out of our control. We have little control over the events that shape our experience in the change, but we do have choice over how we react and respond to the events in our life. However, sometimes we need help to develop more positive and appropriate responses to change; we need the right tools; the right strategies. These 16 strategies are designed to provide such help. These “tools” will help make a difference in our attitude, outlook, and motivational level. These “tools” will help make a difference when dealing with current and future challenges. You can get the complete “tool box” with the book. Future posts will explore these strategies, these tools a little more, explaining the relationship of each to change and why that particular “tool” is important when dealing with change.