Uncertain Times and Change

If you don't like drama then living in these times are really causing you an extremely unstable world! Washington politicians seem to thrive on creating drama, almost like a heckler in an audience, seemingly bent on destroying the act on stage. But, it is everywhere we look today.
Today's press release of TalkFloor by Dave Foster being bought out by BNP Media is yet another example.

My question to you today: Is that good change or bad change?

I suggest it completely depends upon your point of view, and your attitude. I can make strong argument's for both sides. Knowing Dave I realize this gives him a huge resource boost that will allow him to more fully provide more and better programing. Also for BNP it gives them yet another, different vehicle to reach more audience with all of their products/programs. To me this move seems to create stability via change.
Now I also see the less positive side, one that all of us in the Ceramic Tile and Flooring business see so often, another small guy gobbled up by a larger conglomerate group. Dave loses control (degree to be determined) and BNP gets bigger and loses more touch with their daily business. So the change has helped push another company towards the Wal-Mart status of control of the market. As I suggested earlier, good or bad depends upon your point of view and attitude. In my case, I say congratulations to both sides for an apparent win-win situation!

So back to my origional thoughts. Change and Drama. Uncertain times, unstable situations, etc. Why do we react to these situations with feelings of fear, doubt and anxiety? It's due to your AMYGDALA, a small, almond shaped structure in your brain that craves certainty and when it hears otherwise is shoots out chemicals to your body that starts the feelings of fear, doubt, and anxiety.

Now we can all use this small piece of knowledge to help stabilize ourselves in todays times. We control very little today, but we control the absolute MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR: HOW WE CHOOSE TO REACT!
We can use the knowledge about the amygdala to eliminate the feelings and the drama by knowing that again tomorrow, in spite of the uncertainty, the sun will once again come up and the day will start. How we face that new day is what we can control by creating our own stable environment and reduce the drama.

Here are a few steps I see to help us:
1. Learn to Know Yourself - be clear here - drama thrives on a lack of clarity. Master yourself first, and think about the emotions you are feeling before you react to situations.
2. Have written Values and Principles - understand what is important to you and then focus on those ideas. Written is critical so you can review them often. If you don't currently have a written "Life Purpose Statement" that outlines your values and principals you want to live by, I suggest you make that a top priority this month. No, you don't have to wait until Jan 1st to make a New Years resolution - do it now!
3. Listen and Think - critical step here also. Learn how to ask great questions. Instead of having all the answers, try truly listening to others and considering their viewpoints and perspectives, which most likely will be somewhat different from yours. It is tough to always have all the answers - remember James Bond and Columbo both solved all their cases, but in very different ways using very different methods. Both achieved success. I've always found it much too difficult for me to become a James Bond, but man I can handle that Columbo act very naturally!
4. Respect. If you communicate disrespect for others you will be contributing to the drama and uncertainty rather than helping with the solution. Every person and situation has something to teach you - some are lessons on what to do, some are lessons on what NOT to do - but both critically and equally important.

These tumultuous times offer huge opportunities if you choose to focus not on the outside circumstances but rather your own choices of how YOU choose to react. I plan to work on this skill today, how about you?

Steve