Striving for Balance in the New Work World
I’ve spent my career listening to the sounds of striving: applicants striving to become their best selves in the workplace and businesses striving to be outstanding in their industries by hiring the best talent. Yet over the last few years, those sounds have become discordant in the wake of everything that has been going on in the world. As we move into the second month of 2022 amid uncertainty, how might we strive to find balance, become unshakable, and foster positive mindsets in the face of all the noise? How can we keep ourselves mentally strong and not lose hope for what our futures may hold?
Perhaps the etymology of the word February can point us in the right direction. The month of February was named for a Roman festival of purification called Februa. While the festival itself might belong to an ancient culture, the concept of an annual cleansing is still applicable today. I’m sure we all are ready to wash away the stains of darkness left behind by the last three years so we can reach a brighter, cleaner place in our personal and professional lives. And such a cleansing might be just what we need to help us achieve the goals we strive for.
Rather than focusing on chocolates, roses, and romance this February, take this month to wash away the old and strive for balance in your life and in the New Work World. Let’s consider some of the balancing acts you could perform to bring more positivity into your life this February and beyond.
Cleanse Your Mindset
Many scientific studies have reported that severe stress or constant extreme negativity can affect the immune system. With this in mind, how can you keep your mindset strong amid all the challenges you may be dealing with? Perhaps you could start your day with meditation, a long walk or run, or journaling, in which you write down feelings that might be hampering your progress. How might you reprogram your mind so your internal software is positive and unflappable? Maybe a visit with a friend, mentor, or coach could help you develop a plan of action so you can feel supported, rather than alone. Such exercises can bring a sense of balance back to your world and allow some of the anxiety to dissipate, to be replaced with calmer, more positive momentum.
Join a Community
In times of extreme change and challenge, balance can often be found in community. Consider joining a group or association that can support you, both in the services it provides and the people that make it up. Clubs like Toastmasters or Rotary can help you enhance skillsets, such as speaking ability, while also providing networking opportunities for job seekers and those looking to cultivate personal relationships. These days, many such groups and associations conduct meetings online, so you can easily enjoy them from the comfort of your own home.
Expand Your Knowledge
In the wake of health issues throughout the last couple of years, many people have had to take time off to recover, leaving their teams to struggle to compensate. To prevent the imbalance of such project-stalling difficulties, consider working with your supervisor and team to familiarize yourself with the functions of other positions. What’s more, expanding your knowledge in this way can make you more valuable to current and future employers, as it shows your willingness to grow and diversify.
Extend Kindness to Others
As Amelia Earhart said, “No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another.” What kindness can you extend to another who might be going through a hard time? Perhaps you could bring a coworker some comfort food to cheer them up at the end of a hard week. When a friend receives a rejection letter after an interview, maybe you could you do a mock interview with them to analyze what they might be doing wrong, delivering your findings honestly but gently. Demonstrating kindness provides balance within relationships, allowing both the receiver and the giver to feel better.
This year, make February about more than just chocolate. Focus on cleansing your personal and professional lives and strive for balance by cleansing your mindset, joining a community, expanding your knowledge, and extending kindness to others. In doing so, you might just find your way beyond the noise to the symphony of striving in your own world.
Mary Ann Faremouth has been a regular contributor to the USA Daily Post since April of 2020.
