Someone else is busy upsetting the apple cart out of fear that there won’t be enough for everyone. With all the pressure to hustle it’s easy to get caught up in a survival bubble. Like one of those plastic balls designed for hamsters to whiz around the house in.
So how do we escape that bubble of isolation? What stops us from engaging fully with the world we live in? In a recent conversation with a client, we spoke about slowing down and acknowledging the people around us. Eye contact, a smile, greeting the cashier at the store by name. A random act of kindness that expresses a sense of value to a stranger. Now, I’m not suggesting that we get out there and give away our life savings while streaming it live on social media. But let’s slow down enough to observe our surroundings and the people in it. A quick word of appreciation or a shout-out for a job well done can brighten someone’s day. Some encouragement for staff who are working late will make the long hours less daunting.
If you’ve read my previous articles about Time Management and Flipping the Traffic Light, you’ll know we’re on a quest to flourish this year. In a society that is so diverse, we’re stepping out of a myopic isolated mindset to enrich not only our own lives but also the lives of those around us. We NEED to acknowledge the people around us. We are building bridges of understanding and mutual respect not only for our own benefit but for the next generation.
I’d like to share a simple example of a recent experience. I met a young man when I was signing-up for a round of golf. I noticed the name on his name tag was TeboHo – even though he pronounced it TeboGo. So I asked him about it. He explained that the meaning of the name was the same – it means “Gratitude”, but it was pronounced differently by different local tribes. My young friend taught me something new about the different ethnic groups in our nation. In turn, he felt appreciated and acknowledged because someone asked him about his name.
Had I been living in the red-traffic-light-zone; I would’ve dismissed the thought of asking about his name. What if he thinks I’m an idiot for asking a stupid question? Or I would’ve scribbled my initials as I signed-in and rushed off to practice my putting without acknowledging him. It could be fear, distraction or our comfort zone that keeps us in the Red. By Flipping the traffic light, I was able to push past my objections and slow down to acknowledge a young man who is starting out in his career. When we acknowledge people, we ascribe value to them. The day Teboho (Gratitude) was born, his family spoke their gratitude for a valuable man. It is our privilege to echo that value back to people by acknowledging them.
Perhaps it’s time for you to upset your own apple cart of playing it safe. In big or small ways – the key is to switch to Amber, slow down and notice the stranger standing in front of you. Make it a habit. In the middle of the hustle, and despite the pressure. Step out of the bubble that keeps the people around you blurred. You may soon find that all the new bridges you have built enables you to do even more with less.
Challenge yourself this coming week by adding a “looking outside your bubble” moment to your critical tasks for the day and let me know how you found the experience.
That’s it for this series, remember to follow SoJI, connect with us and, keep an eye out for a new series coming soon.
