Happy in the new state
When we feel good and happy about the change, we feel energized and satisfied with the new and we see the past period as history, it means that we have reached the last room of change: the room of renewal.
In this place, everything sounds and feels very positive, we feel full of energy and with the ability to deal with this new change that has been presented, we can demonstrate first to ourselves but also to others that we are ready and developing in the new challenge.
I recently had the experience with a good leader who got into that situation. It turns out that in our company we were going through a process of digital transformation and this good engineer was not so willing to change his way of working with traditional Excel sheets to keep track of things since he felt good doing it that way for many years. When he was exposed to new modern technologies, at first he did not want to change, going through the different first three rooms of change: satisfaction, denial and confusion. In the end, he accepted the change and became the best user of these new technologies. We always laugh a lot with him when we remember what happened.
To continue in this room, there are many things you need to do. For example, continue benchmarking and constantly train yourself on new things that arise or explore existing ones to obtain better benefits. Do not underestimate the small successes that you and the people around you will experience while improving, do not punish failed experiments, on the contrary, it is better to be wrong and learn than to do nothing and be aware that the next change is just around the corner. Instead of waiting for it, look for it.
There are risks in everything, and here in the renewal room, we run the risk of returning to confusion or advancing to conformity. So be alert and remember that change is constant, so you must adapt as quickly as possible and be alert all the time to avoid falling into places that generate more stress.
The other risk that you have to keep in mind in this room is that due to the happiness you feel, you work too much stressing yourself out and letting go of your passion. Keep your balance and take care of this!
For this, there is a great breathing technique called Nadi Shodhana Pranayama that personally helps me reduce the level of stress and intensity when doing things when I am in that room.
Nadi Shodhana and the life force
Nadi shodhana is a pranayama practice in which the breath is consciously and physically regulated to improve airflow through the nostrils as a method of balancing the energy of the body and mind.
Nadi = subtle energy channel; Shodhan = cleansing, purification; Pranayama = breathing technique.
With regular practice, alternate nostril breathing can bring a better balance to your nervous system and less stress response. Deep breathing and alternate nostril breathing slow your heartbeat and lower your blood pressure.
Nadi shodhana can be immensely rewarding, even when practiced regularly for as little as five minutes. But practicing daily for 10 to 15 minutes offers even more profound benefits.
How to do it?
Sit comfortably with your spine upright and shoulders relaxed. Keep a friendly smile on your face.
Place the left hand on the left knee and palms open towards the sky or in Chin Mudra (thumb and forefinger touching lightly at the tips).
Place the tip of the index finger and middle finger of the right hand between the eyebrows, the ring and little fingers in the left nostril, and the thumb in the right nostril. We will use the ring finger and the little finger to open or close the left nostril and the thumb for the right nostril.
Press your thumb down into your right nostril and exhale gently through your left nostril.
Now inhale through the left nostril and then gently press the left nostril with your ring finger and little finger. Removing the right thumb from the right nostril, exhale from the right.
Complete 9 of these rounds breathing alternately through both nostrils. After each exhalation, remember to inhale through the same nostril that you exhaled through. Keep your eyes closed throughout the process and continue to breathe long, deep, and smoothly without forcing or straining.
Here I share a video to guide you better.
It has been a pleasure to go through the theory of the four rooms of change with you so that we can be more aware that change is present in our lives and have enough tools to open ourselves to it.
Let me know what your experience is like and you can share it here so other leaders and managers can learn from you.