05.20.12
Posted in Humor & change, Learning Identity, The Change Process, www.HumorAcademy.com at 11:48 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
Liking her work made singleness less unattractive to one woman in my research study on career change at mid-life. ”Being real happy in my surroundings, liking my work. I think it was just this gradual thing as I’ve been here, really happy here, happy with my work.”
The women in my research study had several “prongs” going on during their career change. Fielding the invasive, “Why aren’t you married yet?” accompanied the usual chaos that surrounds career change.
But having meaningful work, work that represented and expressed their passion and purpose—that was the key to fulfillment whether or not there was a dating relationship on the horizon.
Is YOUR purpose strong enough to battle society’s opinion of you?
Living Between the Extremes is the research study Dr. Trina Hess conducted at Penn State University. Subtitled, “How do single, mid-life women reconstruct their identity after a work transition,” the study highlights those tools that describe and inform the process of change. Find out about the change programs offered by Dr. Trina Hess at www.HumorAcademy.com
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Posted in Humor & change, Learning Identity, The Change Process, www.HumorAcademy.com at 11:40 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
One of the women in my research on work transitions talked about life purpose, what she called passion. ”We know. We just know. ’I mean, this is fulfilling to a degree, but it’s not it‘.”
What would make you stop and think, “What do I really want?” as opposed to what people think would be good for you? How much power do you give the voices of others when you are going through difficult change?
Living Between the Extremes is the research study Dr. Trina Hess conducted at Penn State University. Subtitled, “How do single, mid-life women reconstruct their identity after a work transition,” the study highlights those tools that describe and inform the process of change. Find out about the change programs offered by Dr. Trina Hess at www.HumorAcademy.com
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Posted in Humor & change, Learning Identity, The Change Process, www.HumorAcademy.com at 11:26 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
One of the women in my research study acknowledged that changing jobs would mean a loss of control. But she was willing to lose control because that would bring her closer to finding and living her passion/purpose.
When change happens, we are out of control. Literally, and on a visceral level. We do drastic and also passive things to gain back this control. We do all the wrong things; and we lose our sense of humor. But humor is the one key ingredient that puts us in control of our life, and helps move us successfully through change.
Living Between the Extremes is the research study Dr. Trina Hess conducted at Penn State University. Subtitled, “How do single, mid-life women reconstruct their identity after a work transition,” the study highlights those tools that describe and inform the process of change. Find out about the change programs offered by Dr. Trina Hess at www.HumorAcademy.com
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Posted in Humor & change, Learning Identity, The Change Process, www.HumorAcademy.com at 11:20 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
One of my study participants just turned 50 and talks about what life would have been like had she been married. Talks about how marriage may have complicated career change now in mid-life.
“If I had married in my 20’s I think it would be a whole different ball game [now]. I don’t think I’d be doing the same sort of career—if I was still married. I don’t think I’d be doing the same sort of career exploration. So I look at that as being very positive, being single.”
Living Between the Extremes is the research study Dr. Trina Hess conducted at Penn State University. Subtitled, “How do single, mid-life women reconstruct their identity after a work transition,” the study highlights those tools that describe and inform the process of change. Find out about the change programs offered by Dr. Trina Hess at www.HumorAcademy.com
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Posted in Humor & change, Learning Identity, The Change Process, www.HumorAcademy.com at 11:14 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
One of my participants described what a peer said about career change indecision: ”Do you want to be kept?”
Achieving and respecting our purpose must override money. If it doesn’t, if the purpose isn’t felt strongly enough, we will be stuck in the vortex. Again and again going round and round in indecision.
That spin around the vortex flings us further and further from our identity. We may move into a new work role, but we won’t feel solid. And the vortex beckons to us again and again…
Living Between the Extremes is the research study Dr. Trina Hess conducted at Penn State University. Subtitled, “How do single, mid-life women reconstruct their identity after a work transition,” the study highlights those tools that describe and inform the process of change. Find out about the change programs offered by Dr. Trina Hess at www.HumorAcademy.com
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Posted in Humor & change, Learning Identity, The Change Process, www.HumorAcademy.com at 11:06 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
One of my study participants told me about Dennis the Menace’s illustrator. ”He was five and they put a pen in his hands and he–he knew it was magic.” Just to have that strong passion, she said, was what compelled her to make a career change.
What are the interests that used to make YOU feel the magic? Why not return to your passions and see where they lead you.
Living Between the Extremes is the research study Dr. Trina Hess conducted at Penn State University. Subtitled, “How do single, mid-life women reconstruct their identity after a work transition,” the study highlights those tools that describe and inform the process of change. Find out about the change programs offered by Dr. Trina Hess at www.HumorAcademy.com
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Posted in Humor & change, Learning Identity, The Change Process, www.HumorAcademy.com at 11:02 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
The time crush that my participants experienced didn’t cause them to panic. Instead, the pressure of time gave the women PERMISSION to get back in control of their lives. To decide for themselves, finally, “What do I WANT?”
Living Between the Extremes is the research study Dr. Trina Hess conducted at Penn State University. Subtitled, “How do single, mid-life women reconstruct their identity after a work transition,” the study highlights those tools that describe and inform the process of change. Find out about the change programs offered by Dr. Trina Hess at www.HumorAcademy.com
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Posted in Humor & change, Learning Identity, The Change Process, www.HumorAcademy.com at 10:58 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
One of my research participants described hitting 50: ”What do I want to do when I grow up?”
This milestone birthday was Decision Time. The time crunch, though, wasn’t a barrier to dash these women’s hopes for the future. Instead it was the impetus to DO things, make new changes, and match an updated lifestyle with an updated career. In a word, to find their purpose.
Living Between the Extremes is the research study Dr. Trina Hess conducted at Penn State University. Subtitled, “How do single, mid-life women reconstruct their identity after a work transition,” the study highlights those tools that describe and inform the process of change. Find out about the change programs offered by Dr. Trina Hess at www.HumorAcademy.com
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05.19.12
Posted in Humor & change, Laughter Meditation, Learning Identity, The Change Process, humor & hope, www.HumorAcademy.com at 12:12 am by Dr. Trina Hess
Think you need to speed up, just to stay ahead? Think again. According to Laughter Meditation expert Pragito Dove, we need to think differently. To get ahead, we need to slow down.
Listen for the silence and center. This will make us feel more grounded. And from there, we become more relaxed and open to solutions.
It’s the EFFORT that constricts us.
It’s the STRUGGLE that confines us.
It’s the release that FREES us.
It’s the ACCEPTANCE that allows us.
To be us.
To get to the answers we need.
To attain the identity that will float us toward our goals.
How simple is it?
1. :30 sec. laughter
2. :30 sec. silence
Work our your calmness muscles. Build the body memory. Pragito says, “Don’t wait until you’re in a chaotic situation. You’re not going to remember,” what to do.
Start today, by listening to the entire interview, where Pragito reminds us, “You can lead your whole life like that. From a relaxed, calm place. And when chaotic things happen, you won’t be knocked down. You’ll be so deeply rooted in the earth, in your self.”
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05.15.12
Posted in Humor & change, Humor attitude, Humor~Business, Humor~Creativity, Learning Identity, The Change Process, www.HumorAcademy.com at 7:35 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
You want your organization to perform better, your employees to be satisfied and productive. You know there are certain changes that are needed before this can happen. You’ve tried the usual methods to make change happen and you’ve seen these efforts go down in flames. But rather than fling yourself out of the cycle altogether, you just try harder. And fail more. Here are some ideas why your past efforts at change may have bitten the dust.
Bureaucracy vs. create-cracy. A business plan is wise. Following it to the letter, despite outside envinronmnetal factors is deadly. Sure it’s good to have a plan of action, a template to follow. But too often companies get stuck in worship of the model. That chokes off creative channels.
Distrust of authority vs. trust in one’s own voice. Your employees have probably seen company changes crash and burn. Can you blame them for secretly rolling their eyes at your next change venture? Even worse, expecting them to blindly comply only teaches them to conceal and then snuff out their individual voice. Theirs is the voice that may have the clue to solving your next change situation.
Being jaded vs. feeling joyed. Your people may follow along without complaint: Having a job is wise today. But inside, they are jaded. The more they see the pattern of change-failures erupting in their midst, the more their joy is sucked from their lives. The worst part is that their work-styles will reflect their lack of joy. And so will the company’s bottom line.
Taking the company and its goals too seriously vs. admitting mistakes and accepting defeat. A tough recipe, especially since businesses are not supposed to fail—or at least not admit they’ve failed. But your employees know each of your failures; they probably suffered, too. Maybe they even have a clue as to what you could have done better. Perfectionism is at the opposite pendulum swing from laughter. No humor, no more breadcrumbs along your path toward successful change.
What can you do to help your people and your organization to deal with change? Only one thing: Give them back their sense of humor. You do this by taking the following steps:
1. Give them a sense of belonging TO the change that’s occurring. Rather than merely allowing them to be onlookers.
2. Give them a chance to sense change, contribute to it, and yes even reject it. Hear them out, and let them in.
3. Give up the out-dated model of “leader” because your employees, vendors, and staff are savvy. Their individual lives are progressing, but your model of leading them isn’t.
4. Give in to a sense of joy. Allow yourself to know on a visceral level that change is required. Bracing yourself for change invites fear and poor outcomes.
Accept change and trust it. When you let down your guard, you are in fact letting in those resources that are exactly what you need to move through difficult change.
Dr. Trina Hess’ Humor Academy shows you how to LAUGH through difficult change.
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