In the UK recently, there have been lots of endings, new beginnings and heaps of uncertainty after a long period of stability. We've had a new King and Prime Minister in just over a week.
For some, this has been an incredibly emotional time, but I’ve found that it’s also provided a space to consider what’s next, what we’ve learned from a host of experiences during Queen Elizabeth’s reign, and how to take that learning forward.
Image: Mohammad Danish, Pexels
I’ve been in conversations exploring ideas of what's next for democracy, how we work better together in communities as well as delving into the different emotions of fear and anticipation that people are feeling, to find a way forward.
These opportunities to intentionally consider our experiences, thoughts and ideas and the lessons we might take away from them, are invaluable. Time for reflection can allow unexpected perspectives or ideas we’ve never considered before, to pop up.
When life is busy, it’s easy to move from one task to another, crossing things off our to-do list. Worrying about the kids getting to school on time, how we’ll fit all our work into the day and now for many of us, how we’re going to balance the books.
But as we’ve seen over the last few days, reflection doesn’t need to be hard work. Being purposeful about our thinking with an intentional focus could be done on the walk back from the school drop-off for example.
Or you could slow right down and spend time writing down your thoughts around a specific experience and what that’s telling you. Or you could use photos, drawing or images or talking it through together with a trusted partner or coach to give yourself a different perspective. Whatever works best for you.
If you’re looking for a steer to help you get started, then this is a great resource.
If you need some support or something pops up that you’d like to chat about in a safe space, give me a shout.
I’d love to hear how you get on.