Consciously Adapting (part 2: the practical considerations)

In Part 1 I shared the example of a pilot flying an aeroplane towards turbulence and the various options he has before him, and how this applies to each and every one of us. In this article, I will be exploring a practical approach that assists you in identifying the turbulence that you may be experiencing, why this may be occurring and how we can seek to minimize or avoid it.

Photo by Mitchel Boot on Unsplash

The ‘turbulence’

With the example from Part 1 in mind, I would like you to consider what ‘turbulence’ you may have, or currently are experiencing. Bear in mind that each aspect of our lives, or the various relationships that we are engaged with will be like individual “flights” that we pilot every day. For example your relationship with your partner is an individual ‘flight' that you are on, while your career is another, and your relationship with your children, and so on. Every person is simultaneously on all of their own flights each day. Many of these will (hopefully) be in the same direction as the 'flights' of the significant people in our lives, but sometimes we are flying towards completely different destinations.

When we begin to consider the need for minor, or major change in our lives, it can be helpful to reflect on the impact of the ‘turbulence’ we may have experienced first to be more empowered to make the best choices as opposed to jumping straight into making changes.

The impact

An example of noticing the impact of change could be a pilot becoming aware of a new, gentle rattling sound which alerts her to a minor change in the weather. Because she became aware of the impact of the increased winds, she is able to monitor and adjust the plane as needed. Taking some time to assess where change has occurred can help us gain clarity and a greater understanding of it so that we can determine whether the change has been;

1. Clear and obvious, where the impact has been easily noticeable. For example, there may have been increased conflict, misalignment or frustrations that you have experienced with an individual, or a group of individuals.

2. Subtle and gentle, where there has been a gradual, gentle shift that you have now become aware of. Things have felt ‘off’, but it was difficult to fully notice at first. This could be situations of increased disappointment or frustration with a person or group, but it was subtle enough that we just carried on.

What, or how has this change impacted your dynamics, and importantly, how has this impacted the effectiveness, balance and productivity of your space? Being able to create some greater clarity about what the impact has been and where the impact has been felt will help you determine what solutions may be necessary to help create a shift in a more positive direction.

Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash

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