If you are waiting for things to go “back to normal”, you may be disappointed.

If you are waiting for us to be done with COVID, you may be disappointed. 

If you are waiting for a vaccine that is 100% effective against SARS-CoV-2 and all variations and mutations, you may be disappointed. 

If you are waiting for a day when everyone is fully vaccinated, no one has to wear masks and the world of work, travel, school, shopping and socializing is back to where it was in 2019 before the pandemic, you may be disappointed. 

Unfortunately I see too many people who are in a holding pattern waiting. Waiting for things to go back to “normal”. Waiting for things to go back to the way they were. 

The world you are living in now, is normal; the normal of now. The normal of now will be different a week from now, a month from now, a year from now……….. 

Even without the pandemic the world would be different now than it was a year ago. Change is part of life. 

I do not believe that resilience is about bouncing back. None of us has a time machine. We can never go back.  We can learn from the past but we all have to live in the present. I subscribe to Eric Greitens’ philosophy that resilience is not about bouncing back; it is about moving through.  Through:

• Hardship to Happiness
• Suffering to Strength
• Pain to Wisdom

Greitens explains that resilient people find healthy ways to integrate their negative experiences into their life. 

Living life in a holding pattern while you are waiting for things to get back to the way they were is not good for anyone. You need to take action. Do what you can with what you have. Be grateful for what you do have and what you can do. Seek positive opportunities in the normal of now. Focus on your health. Focus on your family. Focus on your personal growth. 

I am fortunate that I do not have to look very far for positive examples. While my oldest son Jesse’s two Vine Arts locations have done well over the last year his cocktail bar Proof and restaurant Donna Mac have been significantly impacted by the pandemic and the public health measures. My youngest son Cody’s restaurants Native Tongues, Calcutta Cricket Club, A-1 Cantina and A-1 Café along with A-1 Burrito and A-1 Bodega have all been significantly impacted by the pandemic and the public health restrictions. Neither one of them have spent much time sitting around waiting and wishing for things to “get back to normal”. They have accepted the ever changing normal of now and continually improvised and adapted to look after their staff as best as possible and make the best of whatever they can do given the restrictions. Has it been frustrating? Sure. Has it been easy? No. Have there been some days that are better than others? Yes. Did they have to make hard decisions at multiple points in the last year? Absolutely. 

Will things ever get back to “the way things were”? No. What will the normal of now be like in 6 months, 12 months, or 18 months? No one knows. 

What’s Important Now? Accept the normal of now. Take action. Do what you can with what you have. Embrace the Suck. Look for the Good. Dare to Be Great. 

Take care.

Brian Willis

www.lifesmostpowerfulquestion.com. Maximizing human potential through Life's Most Powerful Question - What's Important Now?

www.daretobegreatleadership.com The online Dare to Be Great: Strategies for Creating a Culture of Leading workshop was created to help aspiring leaders and frontline leaders on their leadership journey. Subscribe to the weekly blog while you are there. 

 

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