Figmentations

Clearly we can not expect to approach the amount of change we currently face by relying on our old way of thinking about things.  Our old mindset is no longer working.

Everywhere you turn, there is talk of change.  I even started off planning on writing about this upcoming change.  That’s when it occurred to me.  I was surprised to find that everything I was writing down, regarding change, could just as appropriately be grouped under a heading of “personal responsibility”.

So, below is a list of eight observations about the kind of a mindset that I believe we will need to adopt in order to learn from our past and to successfully navigate the upcoming structural changes we all will be (or already are) facing.  

This is how I see the mindset of personal responsibility:

1.  Don’t rely on a formal education alone. Become a lifelong learner.  I believe that we go to school to learn “how to learn”.  After graduating, we need to continue learning.  Supplement that formal education with self-education.  Be informed.  Consume information.  Be aware of what’s going on in the world around you so that you can judge for yourself what is in your best interest. Put yourself in the position that you are not dependent on someone else (with other objectives) to do this for you.

2.  Don’t blindly follow old or new ways of doing things.  We’re in a time when a lot of the old rules or ways of doing things no longer apply (e.g., 401Ks are no longer the best way to save for retirement; investment in real estate isn’t always a safe bet;  spending without saving does not create a healthy and vibrant economy).   New times call for new strategies.  Know what you want.  Be aware of why you’re doing what you’re doing. Re-evaluate often.  The days of ”set it and forget it” no longer exist.  Learn how to recognize and anticipate when things are no longer working.  Regularly evaluate, re-assess, and make adjustments accordingly.

3.  Don’t accept things at face value.  Look below the surface to notice what is appropriate for you.  Advice these days can sound good, yet we need to instinctively look deeper.  “Look before you leap” might be good advice for someone who is recklessly impulsive. “He who hesitates is lost” might be good advice for a procrastinator.  Neither statement is fundamentally untrue and neither is universally relevant or appropriate either.

4.  Don’t be dependent on others, but do ask for help when you need it.  Know what role you played in your own circumstances.  Don’t be passive and wait for, expect, or demand that Help find you.  Learn how to help yourself.  Ideally begin networking before you need help, but know it’s never too late to start. Ask for advice or guidance.  Learn and share.  

5.  Don’t isolate yourself.  You’re not alone.  Others are going through the same thing.  People help each other. “Misery loves company”, but don’t commiserate with complainers and blamers.  Find an empowering group to associate with.  Take solace that others are going through (or have gone through) similar situations as you.  Share experiences.  Learn from each other.  Don’t be too big to accept (or extend) a helping hand.  Pay it forward.

6.  Don’t only look outside of yourself for solutions, look within, too.  Be active in your own success. Experience and experiment for yourself.  Take purposeful, not random, action.  Take calculated, not impulsive, risks.  And, don’t rely solely on the law of attraction to manifest itself and come to your rescue.  Don’t invest in seminar after seminar without using what you’re acquiring.  There’s a lot of free information and resources out there, use it as a stepping stone.

7.  Don’t expect technology or gadgets to solve your problems. There is so much information out there.  Pro-actively look for answers, options, and potential solutions.  Use technology to your advantage to filter the fire hose of information out there. Do not drown yourself in in-actionable or irrelevant distractions that can disguise themselves as information.  

8.  Don’t give up.  Make lemonade from lemons. Don’t forget to be grateful for the blessings of your life.  You can always find something around you and within you to appreciate, if you choose to.  Consider adopting the philosophy that there is no such thing as failure, only feedback.  Look at challenges as learning opportunities.  The advantage of looking on the bright side is that it puts you in a resourceful state to see more options available to you and then to take meaningful action.  Remember that small steps add up.

The unknown horizon before us can seem complex and formidable. There are no guarantees.  But there are opportunities. Take personal responsibility for your journey.  It’s a good feeling to be self-sufficient. 

In this interconnected world, we need to recognize that there is a huge difference between helping each other versus being dependent on others.  We can help each other grow stronger. 

Personal responsibility and learning to trust our own judgement can seem scary, yet it is also something that will only improve as we continue to exercise that muscle. It’s a skill that is absolutely worth the effort to master and will undoubtedly provide lifelong benefits to those that do.

So, let me know.  Has this advice been helpful?  Do you have other tips or insights to add?