The New York Times had a funny recipe post. They claimed, “This linguine with chickpeas, broccoli, and ricotta comes together in 20 minutes. Pairs well with crusty bread, good wine, and a sense of accomplishment.”
Everyone wants a sense of accomplishment. However, even in the best circumstances, things can go haywire. So, here’s a bonus technique for the June series, Three Essential Work Techniques to Handle Change. So far, we’ve discussed how to apply creativity, adaptability, and courage. The last piece of the puzzle is resiliency. Cultivating the ability to confront change head-on and bounce back when necessary doesn’t mean you’re failing. It’s simply meeting life on life’s terms.
Let’s meet someone whose resilience in the face of sudden change provided a sense of calm.
Artist Day Schildkret specializes in ritual and creating with nature. His Instagram account, Morning Altars, is normally filled with photos of his work, classes, and books. But this week was a little different. A technical gremlin showed up, almost derailing a workshop. Here’s an excerpt from his Instagram reel about handling change:
“Do. Not. Fret.
I was facilitating a class for my teacher training. Suddenly and without warning, ALL the tech glitched! And so naturally, I freaked out internally. And I was thinking to myself, What am I going to do?! What am I going to teach them? What will my students think of me?
And as I started to spiral—poof! Just like that, my student became my teacher. And she reminded me what every good artist knows: Don’t fight what is. Let go and trust in what’s unfolding.
Trust that this is an opportunity and not an affliction. Trust that I can pivot toward what’s working. Trust that I have more than enough wisdom to share. And trust in the path of least resistance.
And as soon as I let go, I fell right into the arms of my students. And because I needed them, each one stepped up, and we carried the class together. Because disappointment can sometimes be the midwife of trust and generosity.”
Here’s a lesson to take away from the case study: Change is twice as hard if you resist at every turn. Sometimes navigating surprises is like the surfer we talked about at the beginning of this series. They handle crazy changes all the time. Their trick is having a few techniques in their back pocket to help create stability when uncertainty hits.
Likewise, you can put your inner Alarmist, Catastrophizer, and Drama Club President to rest by emulating surfers. Hone the life skills to adjust and handle whatever comes your way (even the not-so-fun stuff). Reclaim your peace of mind by knowing you can bounce back.
Soft skills aren’t tricky or complicated—they’re as easy as 1, 2, 3! Here’s a recap of qualities that will help you find stability when change happens:
Even changes which are desired and exciting have their own set of surprises and challenges. So, take charge with your everyday work skills and navigate like the creative, wise CEO of your life—a Soul Boss. Make managing change part of your skill set.