Last weekend I got into an ugly argument with an old friend of mine. I found myself exploding with anger, even though he was behaving the same way he always had. Upon reflection, I realized that that's exactly why I lost my cool. I had changed tremendously in the 23 years I've known him, especially in the past few years, but it felt like he was trying to interact with the person I used to be. "Can't you see I'm different now?!" my inner self was crying out.
Of course, now I can see that he hadn't done anything wrong. He was just being who he was. But something had changed inside of me that required our relationship to change. And isn't that how it is...that when we change, our relationships do, too. So many times, this metamorphosis can look as strained and twisted as the butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. Teens fight with their parents to establish their new-found identities, siblings squabble over their deceased parents' assets as they struggle to normalize a new family order, newly promoted peers awkwardly stumble around a shifted power dynamic. Some relationships survive this turmoil and others end as a result of it.
There is something beneath all of these uncomfortable periods in our relationships: our roles are changing. It's hard when the teacher becomes the student or when the caregiver becomes the one in need. And what makes it even harder is when one person can feel a shift inside of themselves and the other is going through his or her life, as any normal person would, expecting things to stay the same.
As you change and grow, acknowledge how you're different than you used to be. Consider what that means for the people in your life. Give them some empathy for assuming you're the same person that you were before. Then think about what the changes in you mean for your relationships. Who needs to know about your growth? What roles would you like for them to play in your life now? What role will you play for them that is different than before?
These periods of growth can be challenging for ourselves and for our relationships, but learning how to reshape old bonds is part of the journey. When you can share your internal shifts with your spouse, children, parents, boss or friends, there is an opportunity to enrich the relationship. The conversation can feel strange, as these aren't the kinds of conversations we're used to having. But if you have the courage to ask your loved ones to see you in a new light, something magical might emerge.
It's Love Your Brand Week!
This Friday is our first Love Your Brand workshop! I've worked one-on-one with countless entrepreneurs using the same frameworks we'll cover in this class. While one-on-one is great, imagine the power of a room full of entrepreneurs working together to build passion-filled platforms for their business.
You'll benefit from sharing ideas, getting real-time feedback from other business owners and getting to know like-minded change-makers. Space is very limited, but there's still time to sign up. Registration ends Wednesday for this Friday's workshop. Learn more and register here!
Dominion National Launches New Look
Speaking of loving brands, we loved working with Dominion National (formerly Dominion Dental) to help update their name and build a new visual identity. This comprehensive project engaged leadership, employees and customers to uncover Dominion's "special something." The project resulted in a new logo, an enlivened set of collateral, a vibrant office space and an energized website. Kudos to Dominion National for finding their essence and giving it voice!
