A few weeks ago, I asked on my Instagram stories for people to tell me if they had made life changes in the past six months. About 50% said yes. On the next slide, I asked what the changes were.
This was not a scientific study and I only kept the response box up for two hours. It was a self-selecting group (those who wanted to share a change they had made) from an already self-selected group (those who follow me on Instagram and happened to be online from 5-7pm PST one Sunday night).
But –– anecdotally –– I can tell you that people have made some big changes in the age of Covid. Reading the responses was one of the most inspiring experiences I have had online in 2020.
I highlighted some of what was shared above but there were so many more…people got puppies, people moved in together, people downsized. People came out to their friends in their 40s. People asked for a divorce. People were furloughed and decided to never return to their old jobs. People closed their businesses. People launched new businesses. People decided not to have kids. People started therapy for the first time. People stopped drinking. People moved their ailing parents into their homes. People found themselves finally grieving the loss of their mothers.
In this year, where so much is unknown and time can feel frozen, people have changed.
While reading about recent decisions, I was struck by how many people found themselves becoming more who they had been all along. This season has forced us to look closer at what is working and what is not working. It's also lasted long enough that we have had to adjust and do something with this new information. And that, while scary, is freeing too.
One of my favorite responses that summed up so much was: “I truly didn't think I was going to make it through. But it's crazy –– I am starting to trust myself again.”
Whew.
What I loved most about this exercise was how clearly and boldly people shared their decisions. Instagram offers a small response box with a character limit. There was not space to tell me why you made your choice. There was not room to offer a reason or explanation for your actions. And also, you were only telling a box. A box is not your best friend or your business partner or your accountant. You didn't have to justify your actions and plans –– you were able to just share them. Again, how freeing.
After reading hundreds of responses, here is what I know:
Even if you were “just” talking to a box, each statement –– typed bravely –– was able to stand on it's own.
Even if you were “just” sticking to a character limit, each statement –– though brief –– was terrifically complete.
It felt like a celebration to read these words.
So today, I wanted to highlight this exercise and share some inspiration from strangers in case you're stumbling or your voice is shaking as you find yourself making small or big decisions this year. Please know: You are enough. You can trust yourself. And no additional explanation is needed.
