Adapting to changing times
WE are in a season where we are constantly adapting. From adapting to different curfews to changing ways of doing school, work, church and life. All this, therefore, calls for us to harness an adaptable mindset.
Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher, was quoted with this famous phrase, “change is the only constant in life.” Many of us have a love- hate relationship with change and adaptability. However, when things are going as we wish, we can take comfort in that no matter what, things change.
A friend had suggested that I do part two of the personal freedom feature today. But looking at the many changes we face daily, I felt a need to speak again on adaptability because it is a daily task.
If we fail to fully embrace the power of adaptability we will be mentally drained by the societal changes and new ways of living constantly being brought about as we try to mitigate the devastating effects of the invisible enemy, the Coronavirus pandemic.
Imagine just recently children that had been home for a whole year had to quickly adjust to wearing uniforms and waking up early for school again. Parents equally had to deal with the changes in the daily routines which included budget changes for transport and lunch for their children. Just as we were about to settle in our seats and pat ourselves on the back for adapting as quick as Clark Kent turns to Superman, the next thing schools had to be closed again.
This, of course, is also quite a difficult time for those who have to make such decisions. But they have to be made for our safety. Ours is to adapt. We also saw how the fuel shortage led many to imagine a life without their vehicles. Some settled for public transport for a week. The situation was restored, and they had to adapt back to driving. Such meant going back behind the wheel and recalling the ABC ( accelerator, brake and clutch) lest you mix everything and the car crashes. Again adaptability.
On a community front, we had all settled to a life of being indoors by 5.30pm in time for the 6pm curfew. A curfew which reminded me of the childhood days when I had to be at home by sunset, lest I be ‘ stolen.’ For weeks many of us adapted to our childhood days while in adulthood. We trust it was for the best though. After all, a similar curfew had worked wonders in reducing and mitigating the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic. But with figures now shooting up to over 200, it seems such measures also need to be accompanied by personal behaviour changes, lest they are in vain. Anyways we are now at an 8 pm curfew. The extension is something I welcomed because some businesses had a tough time operating with the limited hours.
BUSINESSES
This meant that businesses that normally ran up to 10pm with two shifts now only needed one. Lay- offs loomed for some. We are therefore grateful that the times were extended— albeit briefly. We can at least ward off another pandemic, which is off job losses, at least for now. Interestingly, though, despite the two- hour extension, my neighbourhood is as quiet as a church mouse by 6pm. Some people have not fully adapted to the new times. More especially because going against the curfew had now seemed like it could also put your life at risk. I recall, during the 6 pm curfew days, shaking as I stepped out to grab a delivery from my gate just before the time. Between 5.50 pm to 6.05 pm, I called the people delivering over 10 times. At times I would disappear into the house. I did not want to be caught on the wrong side of the law. Neither did I wish to suffer the consequences of breaking the rules. Such is the life we have been living. No need to explain what we feared if we broke the curfew time. We all know. No one wants to experience that.
But as I emphasise adaptability is now an essential and invaluable skill. And so we adapt to 8 pm. Who knows maybe by the time you read this feature the curfew will be different again due to the rising cases.
Even on the work front, one minute you have mastered doing meetings on Zoom, the next you are asked for a meeting on Microsoft Teams. It is an era that is pivoted on learning on the go. If you fail, you are left behind.
Only the most adaptable will thrive in the constantly changing markets of today and tomorrow. Experts note that the coronavirus pandemic brought unpredictable challenges to businesses in every sector. No sector has been spared. Yet people have responded with ingenuity and found new ways to thrive. Rapid change of the sort we have seen will only continue, and the ability to evolve in the face of such changes will be integral to the success of businesses.
Kristianne Wargo, a Lifestyle Strategist, says adaptability is a secret to success that no one talks about a lot. She notes that through the power of adaptability and finding how to upgrade yours, there your greatness lies. She solidifies her view by quoting a TED Talk saying, Natalie Fratto, a venture capitalist, presented in a TED Talk, “I look for signs of one specific trait. Not IQ. Not EQ. It’s adaptability.” Imagine a skill greater than IQ and Emotional Intelligence.
Therefore, we should not be afraid to embrace change to achieve our goals. If we do this, we not only have the potential to affect change in our personal lives but in the lives of others as well. Let’s keep adapting to change.