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Adapting to the new normal
New challenges represent a golden opportunity to rethink situations, not only around us, also within ourselves.
In this dynamic process, we usually have access to different behavioral choices, to run, to fight or to adapt. This is a popular way to understand the theory behind of the framing of decisions and the Psychology of choice.
If we follow this theoretical perspective, we learn that "the frame we adopt is controlled partly by the formulation of the problem and partly by personal and cultural values, habits and other personal traits". There is definitively not a general rule that ensures the rationality, consistency and coherence of our decisions, however there are psychological cognitive, emotional and cultural principles that govern our choices.
One may discover that the relative attractiveness of choices varies when the same decision problem is framed differently. Many times, we are unaware of alternative frameworks and consequently, of their potential effects. In other words, seeing situations through different lenses may reveal a certainly different effect. This is the cognitive principle.
The awareness or emotional principle is the ability to understand our own emotions, feel them, ground them and accept them. Only then, we can truly understand and deal with the emotions and needs of others. This approach is variable in the process, we can complain, resist, even grieve.
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”
It takes effort and time. Most importantly is to train this emotional muscle and learn how and when to use it.
Finally comes the contextual or socio-cultural principle, which is none other than all the cultural values, habits and social rules that shape our social identity. These characteristics are not a generalization trapped in stereotypes, but rather a set of tendencies that we share with our cultural group, that are part of our-self and we feel are authentic and honest to be applied in different situations.
By learning, reframing and practicing behaviors at the cognitive, emotional and cultural levels, we become more adaptable, face uncertainty in a positive manner and help others to adapt in their own way.
Reframe thoughts. Seeing circumstances with a different framework and perspective. Focus on things and situations you can directly change, not on those you can't control.
Stay curious. Learn, explore, wonder, ask plenty of questions and don't judge. This way you can have a broader view of people and situations.
Practice mindfulness. Understand your own emotions, confront them and accept them. Invest time meditating.
Stay connected. Don't get it alone. Engage with people and purposes, with family, friends, colleagues. Develop relationships.
Be humorous. The very act of have a good laugh or make a joke that helps people get through a difficult situation, is an essential skill that bring multiple benefits.
In the current situation of uncertainty and others alike, what kind of behaviors are you readjusting or reformulating in relation to your life, both personal and professionally? How do you feel about this? How do you think people around you feel?
Some powerful alternatives to learn and adjust ourselves in times of uncertainty, is to use the cognitive, emotional and cultural principles with focused actions:
Sources:
Jaffe, E (2013) Association for Psychological Science: Observer. Vol 26
Tverky A, Kahneman D. (2010) "The framing of decisions and the Psychology of Choice" Science, Vol 211 453-458pp