Today on Cuppa’ Tea we discussed a lot of things, even looking at how to make the perfect cup of tea, and how many people drink black tea with sugar!
But this quote resonated most with me and how children are coping with change and that as adults are also coming to to terms with the nature of change.
Our once very clear, relatively safe lives have been somersaulted into this era that we’re living in now.
But we’re still living it.
Things have changed. Loneliness is real and the rate of suicide has increased over the past three months. But your still here.
You are inately resilient.
You being a part of this DyeHard community also makes you resilient as you’re drawing on resources around you to keep you adapting to the change as best as possible.
There are ups and downs. Negatives and opportunities to be had.
This is the same of life regardless of what is going on in our bubble or world.
Change is inevitable.
When we truly understand that, we’ll never live life less full again.
A friend of mine shared an except of a book he’s reading the other day and the simple message of the page and a half he shared was:
Imagine for a moment that all humans recognised each other as another human.
No religion. No countries. No job titles. No judgement. Just humans.
Recognised as such by each and every one of us.
Last week we talked with Char about unconscious bias and how difficult it it is to spot. I see the thoughts above as a way of noticing if you’re making decisions based on unconscious bias.
If we strip back everything we think we know about the people around us. Would our decisions and reactions be different?
I’ve seen on Twitter this week the emergence of blind casting.
I assume this is similar to The Voice? Or maybe just getting rid of the requirements for roles to look like anything (which a lot don’t so I’m inclined to think the former is correct).
I like the idea behind this casting as long as it is done with an open mind. And it is this element that needs to be introduced to each and every one of us. Are we open minded when we look at the humans we share this world with?
And if we’re not, why not?
Other species of animals do fight and they set outcasts aside. They also stay in tribes. Is the globalisation of us as a species a time for us to see each other only as humans and nothing else? What difference would this make?
If we are all truly to be treated equal this concept would be hardest for one group more than others, maybe two looking at the ideology of Communist China, but Western Whites would be the ones, I feel, would have the hardest time getting to grips with this mindset.
Speaking as a white man, why is this?
This is the unconscious bias in action. It is the imagery I see around me all of the time showing white faces more likely than any other.
I’m not worried about losing a sense of status of my whiteness. As much as I am a product of privilege I want there to be equality in the world and I am at peace that certain opportunities and benefits I afford may be impacted by me lending a hand pulling others up to see me.
I still have thoughts, and white fragility type things pass my mind, but I’m grown enough to recognise this and quell those thoughts for the benefit and advancement of all humans on this planet.
This makes me proud.
What thoughts cross your mind when you think of treating of all humans as just humans?
Last week on Cuppa’ Tea we had some questions come in regarding a job offer that one of the watchers has been considered for. They have already had a telephone conversation and it could spell a new direction for them in the organisation they are currently in.
They had reservations though.
This is normal though. We love what we already know. We love the sense of security this gives us. The routine and the regularity of it makes us feel safe. When opportunity comes, all of that might get shattered if you take the plunge.
The routines change. You may not like it. You may not like the new people you have to work with. You miss some of the daily practices that kept you safe in your role.
But what if the opposite is true?
You love it? The new people just get you, for who you are. They recognise your talent and your input into the team. Some of the processes come more naturally to you so your stress levels are reduced.
I love stepping into situations assuming that everything will work out okay. I almost make sure that they do because I’m so blinded by the alternative not being an option so that things have to work out okay. And if they don’t work out okay… I can step away and find something else.
We all can.
Exploring options is something I do all of the time. I like to experiment and enquire with other organisations while still feeling very content. I’m of the notion that not everything in work lasts forever so I might as well be the maker of my own change.
On some of these enquiries I’ve known early on that the role wasn’t necessarily something I wanted to go for. But I knew that meeting the people along the way would be beneficial to me. Sharing insight is part of the process and benefits both parties.
Whatever the watcher of the show thinks might happen the DyeHard community were clear that she should continue exploring the options offered to her. If they remove themselves now they have nowhere. If they go through the process they can learn so much more about themselves and the organisation and still have a say on the matter.
The final say will always be on their say-so if they want the new role or not.
Take time this week to open your eyes and consider the opportunities that present themselves to you and what you can do to explore these in the best way for you!
Explore the options! What is there to lose?
For more reading on considering new roles or responsibilities Imposter Syndrome may play a part in the decision making. We’ve got an episode on this and and I followed up with some writing here too. Always start your week with an intention, read about that here.
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