WINTER THOUGHTS

Working as a Change consultant, I am usually called in when someone needs to start some new initiative, and at this time of year, lots of us are starting new diets, keep fit regimes etc. so I thought I would try to cast a different light on Change. When this happens, I always ask my clients what they are going to stop doing, in order to make space for the new work they re proposing. It seems obvious, but few companies, or people, seem to consider this. We only have so many hours in the day, and usually we spend them as best we can. If someone wants something else doing, something, somewhere needs stopping. The failure to realise this is one of the main reasons that these programmes and resolutions fail anda huge cause of stress in the work place.

Also, think about this, in the natural calendar we have four seasons; we all focus on Spring, and the new growth, Summer and the flowering, and Autumn with its harvest, but what about winter? Winter is the time Nature gives us to rest, consolidate, plan, recuperate and build energy for the coming season of growth. In our centrally heated, modern age, with fruits flown in from all over the world we seem to have lost sight of the value of winter. All growth and change needs a period of quiet dormancy, rest and reflection to be successful.

So, whilst we still have some long nights, give yourself permission not to rush around, rest. Think about what you no longer want in your life and let it go, this is the season dying back.

“”Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom, but we hope it, we know it.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.” William Blake

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 3rd, 2008 at 09:47 and is filed under Business Change, General, Personal Change. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.