As human beings our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world, as in being able to remake ourselves.
–Gandhi

The other day I heard a newscaster say she couldn’t wait to “go back to normal.” And I wondered what exactly she meant by that. Seems to me there is no “going back to normal.” There’s only moving forward. And if we rush too quickly to establish even a “new normal” we may miss out on the true benefits this time can offer – something I sometimes call the “messy middle.”
 
Don’t get me wrong, now that I’m fully vaccinated, I can’t wait to resume my pre-Covid practice of greeting family and friends with big hugs. But I don’t think – in fact, I don’t want – a hug to ever feel normal again – I want each hug to feel as nourishing and life affirming as it is and always was, though I may have taken them for granted.

And I don’t want to “go back” to my pre-Covid practice of starting my day with email rather than exercise, or, buying my lunch every day instead of making it.
 
The author and consultant William Bridges wrote in his classic book Transitions that in between the endings brought about by change and the new beginnings (aka new normal) is a stage called the “neutral zone” – a time when we let go of the old ways of being and doing but haven’t yet grabbed hold of the new.
 
While the neutral zone can be a time of anxiety – stepping into the unknow often is – it can also be a time of creativity, innovation, and wonder, if we choose it to be.

So, to you dear reader:

• What parts of the old “normal” do you want to resume with a new appreciation?
• What parts of the time spent in lock down do you want to make part of your “new normal?” and,
• What new possibility might emerge if you fight the urge to prematurely settle into an old or new normal and instead make room for what’s possible in the neutral zone?

No matter what you hold on to, let go of, or grab hold of in this time of transition, I encourage you to bring your curiosity, courage, and compassion with you.

You Matter.

“In difficult times carry something beautiful in your heart.”
–Blaise Pascal

Just last week a client shared that she’s starting a job search, even in the midst of the pandemic, because she’s tired of feeling like she doesn’t matter at work – especially to her boss.
 
We know we’re in unprecedented times. And no doubt my client’s boss is feeling stretched. We’re living through multiple crisis and it can be overwhelming to stay afloat let along know what to do to make a meaningful difference.
 
But we are not powerless.
 
And if there’s one thing to focus on now, it’s reminding ourselves and others that we matter.
 

To matter is to know, respect, and honor the inherent and irrefutable significance of self and other.

 
3 Things You Can Do Now to Remind Yourself that You Matter:

1. Write the phrase: I give myself permission to be human on a Post-it note and place it where you can see it regularly.
2. Start your day with a moment of self-tenderness like smiling at yourself in the bathroom mirror or giving yourself a gentle hug.
3. Reach out and ask for help. You are worthy of support.

 
3 Things You Can Do Now to Remind Your Employees that They Matter:

1. Give them your undivided attention when you speak with them.
2. Remind them of their unique contribution to the whole.
3. Recognize their efforts as much as the actual results.

 
1 Thing You Can Do Now to have the Best November of Your Life (Yes – even during this November!)
 
Sign up for the 2020 You Matter Marathon – No Running Required – and you’ll receive 30 You Matter cards for free and be part of a world-wide phenomenon. We also have a virtual You Matter card you can send from your home. 
 
For more tips on mattering at work, check out my LinkedIn Live conversation with Julie Cohen, Founder and CEO of Work.Life.Leader.

You Matter.

“When we are no longer able to change a situation,
we are challenged to change ourselves.”
― Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning

Unprecedented. Never has that word felt so accurate and all consuming.
 
Every day my clients and friends remind me that while we’re experiencing this pandemic together, we’re also experiencing it uniquely.
 
Some are sick or recovering from the virus, some have lost family members, others have lost jobs or fear they might, and many are schooling their children.
 
Regardless of our individual experiences, all of us are wondering when and how this will end.
 
While answers to those questions are important, and in time will be revealed, I’d like to suggest a few other questions that we can give some thought to now.
 
And your answers might make a meaningful difference to who we are when we come out of this.
 
Questions to ponder:

1. What do you want to come out of this for yourself? Your family? Your team?
2. What or who is more significant to you now? (delivery drivers for example!)
3. What consumer goods or services do you, surprisingly, not miss?
4. What small joys are available in this time of shelter?
5. How can you continue to use your core strengths during this time?
6. What will you one day tell your future grandchild about how you navigated the pandemic?

• Podcast: How to Be Grateful in Every Moment (But Not for Every Thing.)
• Article: On Coronavirus Lockdown? Look for Meaning, Not Happiness
• Team Leadership Video: If You Lead People, Do These 5 Things
• Me!: If you or your team are struggling, please feel free to be in touch. 

 
I’m here.
 
I care.
 
You Matter.