It might be an understatement to say, but we are living in some uncertain times. To be fair, though, there has never been a time when people could be certain exactly how their lives would play out. That's life. We can't possibly plan for every outcome, so we must adapt when we are faced with new realities. Do you feel like you are adaptable? Could you switch your approach to life if needed? If this makes you nervous to even think about, check out these nine tips that will help you become more adaptable.
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Have a Guiding Light
Life is going to throw all kinds of surprising situations and obstacles in your path. If you have a guiding light or a purpose, you will find it easier to adapt and get back on track. Even if your short-term goals and plans are ruined, you will know your general direction and adjust accordingly.
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Get out of Your Comfort Zone
If you keep on doing the same things over and over again, you are not going to be prepared when you are forced to adapt. If you want to become more adaptable, you have to get used to living outside your comfort zone. This way, you will be more comfortable when forced to make a change.
-
Practice With Low-Stake Activities
Adaptability is like any skill. You can hone and strengthen it through repeated use. If you aren't good at rolling with the punches, try starting small. Something as simple as changing your work route could help you become more adaptable in the long run.
-
Commit to Learning
There is no reason to stop learning just because you are done with school.
A hallmark of adaptability is having a wide spectrum of knowledge. You will find it much easier to adjust your approach if you have the skills and knowledge you need.
-
Stay On Top of Current Events
While watching the news every night can be hard, you should strive to stay on top of current events and trends. Spotting an emerging trend that might affect you will help you prepare for any adjustments you have to make.
-
Treat Mistakes and Failures as Lessons
Life is going to be full of mistakes and failures. This is especially true if you are regularly forced to adapt to changing circumstances. Even the best-laid plans can be affected by forces out of our control. The key is to get used to failure and use it as an opportunity to learn something new.
-
Say "Yes" More Often
People are often told they should "no" more often. The idea is it will give you back your time and set healthy boundaries. This is all true! However, some of us may need to say "yes" more often. By accepting new and different challenges, you will be training your adaptability.
-
Let Go of Attachment
The idea of attachment is a key tenet of Buddhism. Our inability to detach from our ideas of how things should be is what holds us back from a fulfilled life. This is good advice for those who struggle with adaptability. When you let go of your idea of how things need to be, you make it easier to adjust when things go wrong.
-
Build Your Mental Toughness
Change, upheaval, and unexpected obstacles aren't easy. They are going to test you, and they might even break some of us. You should find ways to build your mental toughness so that you can face new challenges head-on. It won't happen overnight, but you can boost your mental toughness. If you want to adapt to a rapidly changing world, you might have to.
FAST-ACTION STEPS
-
What is your guiding light? Think about where you ultimately want to end up in life.
-
Learn something new. It's time to brush up on an old skill or learn an entirely new one.
-
What are some emerging trends in your industry? How will you adapt to these?
It might be an understatement to say, but we are living in some uncertain times. To be fair, though, there has never been a time when people could be certain exactly how their lives would play out. That's life. We can't possibly plan for every outcome, so we must adapt when we are faced with new realities. Do you feel like you are adaptable? Could you switch your approach to life if needed? If this makes you nervous to even think about, check out these nine tips that will help you become more adaptable.
Have a Guiding Light
Life is going to throw all kinds of surprising situations and obstacles in your path. If you have a guiding light or a purpose, you will find it easier to adapt and get back on track. Even if your short-term goals and plans are ruined, you will know your general direction and adjust accordingly.
Get out of Your Comfort Zone
If you keep on doing the same things over and over again, you are not going to be prepared when you are forced to adapt. If you want to become more adaptable, you have to get used to living outside your comfort zone. This way, you will be more comfortable when forced to make a change.
Practice With Low-Stake Activities
Adaptability is like any skill. You can hone and strengthen it through repeated use. If you aren't good at rolling with the punches, try starting small. Something as simple as changing your work route could help you become more adaptable in the long run.
Commit to Learning
There is no reason to stop learning just because you are done with school.
A hallmark of adaptability is having a wide spectrum of knowledge. You will find it much easier to adjust your approach if you have the skills and knowledge you need.
Stay On Top of Current Events
While watching the news every night can be hard, you should strive to stay on top of current events and trends. Spotting an emerging trend that might affect you will help you prepare for any adjustments you have to make.
Treat Mistakes and Failures as Lessons
Life is going to be full of mistakes and failures. This is especially true if you are regularly forced to adapt to changing circumstances. Even the best-laid plans can be affected by forces out of our control. The key is to get used to failure and use it as an opportunity to learn something new.
Say "Yes" More Often
People are often told they should "no" more often. The idea is it will give you back your time and set healthy boundaries. This is all true! However, some of us may need to say "yes" more often. By accepting new and different challenges, you will be training your adaptability.
Let Go of Attachment
The idea of attachment is a key tenet of Buddhism. Our inability to detach from our ideas of how things should be is what holds us back from a fulfilled life. This is good advice for those who struggle with adaptability. When you let go of your idea of how things need to be, you make it easier to adjust when things go wrong.
Build Your Mental Toughness
Change, upheaval, and unexpected obstacles aren't easy. They are going to test you, and they might even break some of us. You should find ways to build your mental toughness so that you can face new challenges head-on. It won't happen overnight, but you can boost your mental toughness. If you want to adapt to a rapidly changing world, you might have to.
FAST-ACTION STEPS
What is your guiding light? Think about where you ultimately want to end up in life.
Learn something new. It's time to brush up on an old skill or learn an entirely new one.
What are some emerging trends in your industry? How will you adapt to these?
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