SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Bryce D’Souza
What does it feel to start afresh? Exciting, anxious, nervous! Well, these are the common feelings or emotions encountered as we grapple with new opportunities or scenarios that come past our way.
Whether it is your first job, a new career, a new place or even a new skill set, there are countless instances in your life where you are often thrusted with new scenarios that spark a deviation from the normal state of affairs.
It may sound surprising, but it is often noted that quite a number of us get into defence mode and view these deviations as challenges that hinder us from achieving what we truly desire. But what if we could adopt a more holistic view and look at these challenges as greater opportunities for success? That’s right, if we choose to change our outlook towards these situations, not only do we attain new results – we leapfrog our way across the learning curve!
Many a times, we are caught up in our daily 9-5 routine that we have accepted it as the norm and are fully driven by it. It therefore becomes our driving force consciously and subconsciously to the point that we live a pre-determined or pre-planned life.
Therefore, in situations of adversity and change, we often get disoriented subconsciously as we have not opened our minds to change – a very classic example the COVID 19 pandemic.
However, when we also choose to accept that our situations and circumstances are impermanent, we are able to easily adapt to challenging circumstances which can benefit us – not just personally but professionally.
We learn the art of problem solving, team building and adaptability in unknown and challenging scenarios. This makes us fit to thrive and survive in a challenging environment where ‘survival of the fittest’ is paramount. Learning to adopt a beginner’s mindset towards every new experience or situation is also one of the key skills we need so we can continue growing and enriching ourselves along the way.
This allows us to acknowledge the fact that as humans, we are not perfect, however by experience and working cooperatively with our mentors, we can grow and become better versions of ourselves.
With the world now heading towards automation and digital transformation in the advent of AI, it becomes more critical than ever to keep an open mind towards learning these new technologies or we risk becoming obsolete to the iterations of the rapidly emerging field of Generative AI. In essence, we need to start viewing our jobs as parts of a wider business process rather than as ‘ends of all means’.
These were some of the thoughts that had sprung in my mind as I lay recounting the countless instances in my life where I have encountered new situations that have continually challenged my thought process. This has allowed me to rethink new ways of working, thereby getting around with different situations and circumstances time and again.
To sum up, every new experience is a blank page, or as they as they say – a gateway towards new opportunities that only empower and equip us for greater challenges that come pass our way. Therefore, instead of ‘surpassing’, let us start ‘embracing’ this new blank page and enter into a world of new possibilities!
