The fifth type of mistaken thinking we can easily fall into during times of change is called attachment to outcome.
When times are stable, having a strong emotional attachment to achieving a particular goal can help us to achieve it. But when everything is changing, no outcome is ever guaranteed. Now strong emotional attachment to a specific outcome can become a disadvantage if it makes it difficult for us to adapt changing circumstances.
This doesn’t mean that we need to give up all hope of ever achieving anything during times of change. Instead, we can learn to thrive in times of change if we do two apparently opposite things: let go of our emotional attachment to a particular goal, while at the same time retaining our absolute intention to achieve it.
This becomes easy when we know our purpose.
When we know our purpose then if circumstances change it becomes easy to let go of our previous goal and look for new goals that will achieve the same purpose. And when we know the purpose behind our actions, that will also bring extra energy and enthusiasm to whatever goals we pursue.
This is the attitude that enabled Thomas Edison to invent the lightbulb. Each time he tried something that didn’t work he didn’t wail, “Oh, no! I’ve failed again! Boo hoo!”
Instead, he said:
“I have not failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work.”
And then he moved on to his next attempt.
In this time of massive churning and change, knowing our purpose will bring extra meaning, energy, and enthusiasm to our work and to our personal life. And when circumstances change, knowing our purpose will also make it easier for us to find other options for achieving the same purpose.
This will enable us to combine commitment with flexibility. And that is yet another step towards becoming antifragile: able to use change to become stronger and more valuable.
What is your top priority today? If that became impossible, how quickly and easily would you be able to shrug it off and focus on another goal? How well do you know your life’s purpose?
Adapted from Inner Leadership: a framework and tools for building inspiration in times of change.
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