Holding on and letting go

This cat does not want to let go!

Just look at that face! This cat has clearly made its mark on this sofa and being a territorial creature, it is not giving up without a fight!

They say change is good, but sometimes we have become creatures of habit. My house, my desk, my job… in this case, my sofa! We assign our ownership to them and attach to them, that is why it becomes difficult when things change.

The future is uncertain at this time, our health is a basic need under threat but for many, so are our jobs. Some people are facing job insecurity, others have lost their jobs already. The work we do is so strongly connected to our self esteem and our self worth because is gives us routines, social positioning and meaning.

The first time I experienced a reorganisation of my department, I learned this hard and fast. I came home with language like but why don’t they need ‘my job’. I picked up a life-changing book and ploughed through it, leaving tear stains on the pages that resonated with the pain I was feeling. Who moved my cheese by Spencer Johnson- I highly recommend this very short book to anyone going through a difficult change. The next day I made a list of things I was going to do to help my job become redundant and set out my intentions for my career and I worked in that company for 13 more years with my character and resilience by my side.

So as we are facing uncertain times ahead, what can we do to help us to ride the changes ahead?

Thasunda Brown-Duckett is CEO of Chase Consumer Banking at JPMorgan Chase, one of the most purpose driven and authentic leaders of this generation and has been called the most powerful black woman in finance. She says “I rent my title, but I own my character.”

This is what I believe is one of the foundations of being resilient through change.

Your character.

Who are you? Who is under the title you hold?
Sometimes it is distracting to look at another person’s career or an idea about what you think you should be doing in your career by now.

But you are not your job. You are a person who is learning and growing and becoming a manifestation of your character, in your job. Only you will do your job as you are doing it, so rock it! Not only that but learn more about yourself and your character through the opportunities that lay ahead of you. Whatever they may be.

That cat might have a new sofa, or no sofa at all. But it can still that strong, wilful cat.

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Chaya Mistry
Communication Coach and Consultant