Try Unlearning
In yoga, a teacher often says that if you feel a sharp, shooting pain, it means your body is telling you to back off because you are likely overdoing something, like I was when I over-rotated my elbows in locust pose, causing a sharp pain in my forearm. I had to unlearn the posture after being quite good at it for years. But, unlearning was hard; it felt like I wasn't doing anything, and it was exactly what I needed.
Unlearning is the process of letting go of outdated or limiting beliefs and knowledge to make space for new perspectives. It's essential for growth, adaptability, and achieving your full potential. Unlearning can be challenging, but it's a continuous process that allows us to thrive in a constantly changing world.
I left my high-paced corporate job last year and transitioned into a few months of sloth mode to unlearn patterns that were quite baked in, even though they didn't serve me anymore. I was quite intentional about my unlearning at many levels - emotional, physical, mental, professional, personal. I had just one rule: do not start anything new, do not take on any new commitments. Pausing and all the insecurity I felt for not "doing stuff", the blank calendar, the silence of slack/emails, was in fact my rite of passage. We are programmed to act, so pausing and inaction could feel uncomfortable but I discovered my tribe of many others who were doing the same and we shared the mutual joy of pausing and exchanged tips on unlearning.
I am deeply saddened by all the posts about layoffs, especially when the employer's messaging is misleading. Over the years, I remember every single layoff event I have been a part of, both as a manager and as an employee. The pain of it stays for a long, long time, and companies that do not take the time to handle it with care will ultimately pay for it in the culture they are creating for the employees they still have. So to all those who are going through job loss now, I really feel for you. I am very sorry that this is happening. In most cases, this is an unplanned, unwelcome change that is hard on the entire family. If that is the case, try to think of what you could unlearn before you move forward. It could be anything: your food habits, sleep cycle, your health, your personal relationships, how you have been approaching your work or how you have kept up your skills. Try it for two weeks or two months, whatever your circumstances allow.
For me, my unlearning journey over the past few months has helped me create more capacity to learn, think, imagine, and see the future differently and far more clearly. As a result, I am experimenting with some new and exciting concepts at my company, Kai Roses. I have amazing collaborations underway, including serving as a senior industry fellow at the UCI Center for Digital Transformation, giving me access to an incredible academic and professional community that is at the forefront of navigating AI-driven business transformation. I continue to discover new personal and professional hills and mountains to climb, and my locust pose is getting stronger and no longer hurting my forearm.
I sincerely wish you the very best in your unlearning endeavors.