State National Blog

Stretch Yourself From ‘Exist’ to ‘Grow'

Written by David Holmes | 10/15/21 7:42 PM

A New Workout:

STATE NATIONAL'S TRAINING DEPARTMENT OFFERS SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW YOU CAN STRETCH YOURSELF FROM ‘EXIST’ TO ‘GROW’

In 2020 and for at least part of 2021, many of us went into “Exist” mode with our lives.
How can we push past this?

Exist

When you look back on your life, you will probably not find many times where you have had to slide back into just the basics. Our mindset and our habits changed. This extended period played tricks on us and changed how we see things. So what do we do to break out?

Inquire & Interact

We can begin by having brief conversations, then meetings with family and friends and eventually coworkers. Challenge yourself to make “Inquire & Interact” an active part of your day. Reach out to colleagues and friends whom you have not reached out to in a long time. Ask about how they and their families are, and how are they approaching work. Engaging with one another is a basic and fundamental component of human existence. The more you interact on a daily basis, the quicker you will become stronger and more confident.

Grow

It may take some time, but eventually you will find that these inquires and interactions are actually helping you expand yourself. Maybe you already used time during the pandemic to grow personally, by baking bread, losing weight, or taking on a new hobby. As your confidence grows, the desire and need to grow professionally will come to the forefront.

Think: How can you propel your skills? How can you work toward a promotion? How can you be a better asset to your employer, your family, your community, and yourself? Reach out to find ideas and assistance from colleagues and mentors, seek training in the form of books, classes, and online workshops, and look for areas where you want to learn more and GROW!