Accepting the change

This article is based on TED Talk by Luvvie Ajayi "Get comfortable with being uncomfortable", a professional trouble maker, who loves to speak up because, she loves to change everything, so it becomes good for everyone.

Being comfortable in your own space

Lets assume you bought a pajama or a night dress in the 2010. Now, its 2020. As far as you don't put some extra pounds, you are so much comfortable in that pajama, than any other ones you have bought recently. A little worn out here and there and faded color with some holes, but who cares. You just want to be comfortable. Did I just get you with this? Yes, everyone has this kind of dress with them and are so hesitant to throw them out.

Its really easy to be your old self, without thinking about what's happening to you or others. Because change is difficult. Change means defying the routines that you have been following all your life or at least for the past few years. It's like throwing your worn-out, highly comfortable pajamas for a new one. It's like stopping your sugar in the coffee or stopping the coffee itself. Omg, can you even think of that? (No offense to the tea drinkers. You can imagine your tea instead.) Its because, we fear it. We fear the change. What will I be without my good old pajama or my daily coffee?

Why it's important to come over the fear of change and speak up?

Its important to embrace change because, its good for you. It's difficult, but good. There's always a problem with being an advocate of change. You are thought to be the trouble maker and the fearless. Well, In this TED talk, Luvvie calls her a professional troublemaker. Would you ever think of yourself that way? Answer would be a big No. Its because of the fear that you wouldn't be heard or your fear that it would never be the right way to get things done. Well, sometimes it is. Sometimes, fear should not be the stopping point. Sometimes, coming out and shouting loud, till you are heard, is what you need to do, for the good of yourself and for others. It doesn't mean you are fearless. It means keeping your fear somewhere else and facing the reality with truth. It means sacrificing your good old pajama to a newly bought night dress.

Lets come out of the pajamas and talk little about people and various systems that runs us - the government, your corporate office and what not. Bringing in a change in these systems is not possible until we come out and talk until we are heard. It's not about getting angry at someone and hitting them with words until they get hurt. It's about pointing out what's wrong with the system and letting the flow take you.

Being the domino

A domino is a structure formed in a orderly manner. One falls, the others follow the suit. In the speech, Luviee compares the domino that falls, to the person, who speaks up to bring a change in the system. In matter of seconds, you would have the entire structure shaken up, if you keep this in mind.

1. Do you mean it?

2. Can you defend it?

3. Did you say it with love?

In the process, you bring in good to yourself or the one who has spoken up for someone who cannot do it for themselves for whatever reason.

Comparing this to the current COVID-19 pandemic situation, there was this doctor in Wuhan, who spoke up at the start. He warned about a disease in the December that was spreading like wild fire. He was silenced, because of the fact that the authorities did not want a change. They were afraid, if they accept the fact, they would have to check people for the disease, bring up a huge change in the system to tackle it. And they did it. But, the action was delayed and it is costing every country in the world, all that they have. A simple action at the time of reporting this would have prevented this global pandemic. The government was very lazy to come out of its old worn-out pajamas and accept the new night dress and see what is happening to the entire world.

How have we done so far in accepting change?

People in systems count on our silence to keep us exactly where we are

-Luvvie Ajayi

#metoo

A powerful movement, which has changed the way we look at men and the society in general is the #metoo movement. While there were some false allegations for money and fame, this movement has shaken the roots of many powerful men and has made them think twice before they make any bad move. It was because of a single woman, who put her fears in the basement and came up to talk on the horrible things she faced in her life. Thanks to that, Sexual Harassment laws are getting stricter.

The pandemic effect

Well, this pandemic has changed everything for everyone. From a daily wage worker to the most powerful CEO's and Presidents in the world, it has brought out the true colors of everyone. It has shown us whom to count on in the Leadership space and who to not to look up to for any matters. It has changed lives in unimaginable ways. I never thought I would be able to handle Work from home in my life. I always found going to office as a way of finding my true self. But, here I am enjoying the Work from home, starting to write my heart out, having funny play sessions with my daughter, all at the same time of being productive. Many are having the wonderful time of their life, except the poor, who are struggling to find the source for their next meal.

Hopefully, we will do better than this. The next time something changes our lives in irreversible manner, we won't be surprised. We would adapt to it. It would be difficult too, at the start, but we will embrace it for our own good. And may be we won't be hesitant to speak up if something wrong is done to us or to others. Because, what would be more harder than thinking of contracting a life threatening disease from anywhere.

What can we do better?

Sometimes, being your own self can be revolutionary. And a person, who speaks up and takes a blow for themselves and others is more than revolutionary.

You can choose to be yourself or to be more than revolutionary by speaking up and getting ready to take a blow. Support people who try to help you change to be a better version of yourself.

First of all, throw your good old worn out pajama from your closet and start using the one you have bought recently. Because, it all starts with accepting a very small change.

Article References:

1. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable | Luvvie Ajayi From <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QijH4UAqGD8&feature=youtu.be>
2. From <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luvvie_Ajayi>
3. AwesomelyLuvvie.com