Are you looking for a fresh start? A change of view will work wonders

By Babita Baruah
Every morning, I sit with my cup of tea, in our little yard. It faces a small garden at the back of the house, beyond which towers a tall brick wall. My company is limited to the chirp of birds and the squeal of an excited squirrel. The stillness of the morning, the view of the plants, the mulberry and banana trees against the wall, is something I never tire of.
But one day, I changed my routine. Sat in the front overlooking the lane outside our house. It was different. I missed the birds, the plants against the brick wall. I could see people walking by, cars on the road ahead, early-morning cyclists.
After a while, I started getting used to these sights and sounds. I waved back at some familiar faces walking past our house every day, offered a cup of tea to the person who came by to wash cars. The morning activity around me gave me a sense of waking up and getting on.
I draw a parallel to this, to the impact of the pandemic on livelihoods. There are many in the industry who connect with me and to others, for similar opportunities. And whenever I have to send regrets, I feel disappointed. But I have always been made to believe that in challenges lie opportunities. They never come easy, they wait in the shadows of despair, waiting to be discovered and unleashed.
Yet, some of us pursue that same road we travelled on. Because we get used to a comforting view, maybe. If we simply take another route, a new place to start off the day, chances are that opportunities may unravel.
Here are some of the ways in which we can deviate, if we choose to.
Re-frame experience. Let me illustrate with an example. An account management or business-fronting person working in, say, an advertising or related industry, could well fit into a marketing role, or in the food or service-related industries – and these are just a few examples. It is about re-framing our experience. From a ‘role’ to a ‘competency’. If the competency is about building strong relationships with partners for business growth, that should lead us to wherever the fertile grounds lie.
Re-framing is a powerful behavioural-science concept. In this example, it starts off with asking ourselves where our core strength lies.
Upskill ourselves. Sometimes, we spend months waiting for an opportunity to knock on the door. This time can be fruitfully used to learn a new skill, or upskill ourselves. Not only does it add to the resume and better our chances, it also shows the prospective employer or partner our resilience, and the ability to make the best of any situation. That’s a strong positive perception. More importantly, it makes us more confident. An idle mind, as they say, is the devil’s workshop.
Dive into a passion. Before, I would call this a ‘hobby’. But ‘passion’ explains it better. Most of us have been brought up in an age where a passion or hobby was a pastime, something extra-curricular. Today, we have examples of a passion turning into a robust business idea. Even if it doesn’t, a passion keeps us active, channelises our energy, connects us to like-minded people and interest groups. Passion, whether it is for reading or writing, art or cooking, playing a sport – or anything else – allows us to indulge and sparks off creativity. It also makes us laugh more often.
Write a journal. Or a simple note, at the end of the day. I love journals. When we write down about our day, we introspect. We question or appreciate. It helps us look back on certain days, when we want to. It also, very creatively, helps us focus, without us realising it. One trick I use is to invest in a good notebook and pen – both are motivating for me!
Vulnerability is not a weakness. When we face challenges, we are sometimes fearful of letting our guard down. Expressing what we really feel. It lies bottled up, with no outlet. It’s both a demon inside us, as well as, at times, societal pressures. Sharing problems with people we trust helps us arrive at solutions together. Or just releases that pent-up fear (or those tears). We should let it flow.
Keep the faith. I firmly believe that Life is about ups and downs. So, behind every dark cloud lies a bright sun. One of the best ways to keep going is optimism. To push ourselves, no matter what, to see the glass half full, and to believe. In ourselves, and in our abilities. It keeps our families and ourselves happy. Positive energy is a power-packed fuel.
These are some of the things I have tried myself whenever I am low or have had a setback. That’s when I have walked away from my comfort zone to a different road, a new view and perspective.
Change the view. Sometimes, that’s all we need to do, for a new beginning or fresh start.
[The author is Managing Partner, GTB India (a WPP unit)]