There are two types of change: expected and unexpected. The unexpected kind is what most find more challenging to handle or adapt to since some changes can affect our lives in one or even multiple ways without anticipating it.

The truth of the matter is that change is a necessary and inevitable facet of life, whether we like it or not. If we look at the silver lining of change, it is a great way to test our adaptability and how we can make the most out of an unforeseen circumstance.

netlogx evaluates how each team member can achieve their individual or company/project goals using netlogx Core Competencies, including Professionalism, Service Focused, Initiative, Contribution, and Adaptability. Considering this blog is about change, I will focus on the core competency, Adaptability, which according to netlogx, is “the ability to readjust oneself readily to changed or different circumstances.”

The year 2020 was all about testing nearly every human being across the planet due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is one event we can relate to since many of our lives were turned topsy-turvy (to say the least). Some examples of change that got thrust upon much of the American population include the following according to MSN.com:

  • Millions have lost their jobs or had hours cut.
  • If fortunate enough to have a job, many are working from home.
  • Small (and some big) businesses are closing.
  • A typical trip to the grocery store is a stressful event on many levels.
  • Children are not going to school, forcing many parents to both work full-time and parent full-time.
  • Many children rely on getting their most nutritious meal from school and are now going hungry.
  • Restaurant and social visits are few and far between.
  • Food prices are rising.
  • Households struggle to pay basic bills and their rent/mortgage.
  • Thousands are seeking assistance from charities and food pantries.
  • Mental health is at an all-time low.
  • COVID-19 has amplified inequality in America.

They say unexpected change is beneficial because it forces us to grow emotionally and physically— strengthening our emotional resolve and making changes to adapt. It will cause you to think differently and reconsider your choices as well as cause you to re-evaluate your priorities and values.

During these unprecedented times, I think back on how I have adapted to the pandemic and how it has forced me out of the comfort zone that I didn’t even realize I had before March 2020.

I have always been grateful for my health and the health of my family, but never contemplated it to the extent that I do today. A simple night out at a local restaurant was never considered a potential danger to our health. I took for granted these basic social outings that I now avoid.

At this point, I am just counting my blessings from a different lens and seeing the world for how it is in its current state—a pandemic. Accepting that things will be different for the unforeseeable future has allowed me to focus on creating new, healthier, and safer habits. Maybe it’s exercising at home or outdoors instead of going to the gym or maybe it’s ordering my groceries online instead of roaming the grocery store aisles.

Yes, this behavior was not considered “normal” before the pandemic, but it is the new norm until further notice, and I have accepted it. Since I have accepted it, I am okay with what comes with it as long as it keeps my family protected.