Everyone hates change! This is the response most commonly given when any change is announced. As a Transformation Change Specialist who has helped thousands of people reinvent themselves and their jobs throughout the change process, I have heard many variations of this sentiment, some much more direct.

Ahead of us is one of the largest revolutionary changes we have ever faced as our world hurtles into the Age of AI. Change is coming, and we need to get ready and cultivate our reinvention mindset.

When you think about, we actually love change. We change the clothes we wear daily, eating the same meals every day gets boring, and remember the negative impact the COVID-19 lockdowns had on our mental health. What helps us adapt to change is whether it’s on our terms and we have time to process, prepare for it and adapt. The reason change is tough for most of us, yes there are people who love it, is because we are stepping into the unknown. And the unknown is scary because it opens us up to one of our biggest fears, the fear of failing. It becomes even worse if it could be a public failure, which explains why many people fear public speaking more than a shark attack.

This is where creating a Reinvention Mindset becomes critical. A Reinvention Mindset is about accepting that change is part of life, and it helps us grow, evolve and live our best life. It’s a mindset built on curiosity, courage, and the willingness to let go of what no longer serves us. People with a reinvention mindset don’t wait for permission or a crisis to adapt, they actively seek opportunities to evolve. They see failure as feedback, not final. Instead of fearing disruption, they use it as fuel to drive them forward.

Six steps will help you build your Reinvention Mindset

1. Change Acceptance

We are built for change, but often end up debilitated by our fear of the unknown. Accepting that life is about changing and evolving will help us keep moving forward.

Let’s not be naïve here though, change does bring with it some pretty serious emotions. We often end up grieving for the world we have lost, but this is part of letting go that will enable us to move forward.

2. Reality Check

Reinvention is about moving forward and, just like any time we move, we should take stock of what we want to take with us. We do this when we move house, we go through everything to decide what is worth keeping and what junk we should throw away. Look at the good, bad and ugly parts of who you are and your lives to allow you to reinvent yourself without the extra baggage.

3. Empower yourself

Change and reinvention means stepping into the unknown. The best way to balance our inevitable fear of the unknown is to empower ourselves with the knowledge and skills to enable us to succeed. There are many ways to empower ourselves, from learning about the change, exploring options, chatting to people who have travelled a similar path before, and seeking out mentors.

However, remember there is only one you, made up of all of your unique life experiences, beliefs, and values. While others can provide guidance and advice, you will need to choose your best path because they are not you.

4. Action

This is the point where we step into the unknown and take action. It doesn’t matter how small the step forward is or even whether it works, we are facing our fears and moving on.

Even the smallest shift will change us and help us reinvent ourselves.

5. Try, try again

As we move through this land of the unknown, we will inevitably fail, make wrong turns, and need to regroup. Anticipating that everything won’t go as planned is key. Armed with your reinvention mindset, you will be equipped to deal with failures, learn from them, regroup and keep moving forward.

6. Have fun

Remaining present throughout any change is critical to not falling into the trap of staying stuck in the past or becoming anxious about the future.

The only reality is the present, the past has gone, and the future is yet to happen and may not eventuate like we expect. The most logical option is to stay present and enjoy the journey. Enjoyment and fun help us release the feel-good hormone oxytocin, which helps combat the stress hormone cortisol, allowing us to think more positively, with a clearer mind.

Jeff Bezos, the Founder of Amazon, when talking about the inevitability of change, is quoted as saying “What’s dangerous is not to evolve.”

Anticipation is about expecting something to eventuate, and given that change is often referred to as the only constant, the most logical response is to prepare for it.

Cultivating a reinvention mindset prepares us to face our life-changing events that will challenge us and make us grow. It also empowers us to successfully adapt to our new normal faster, while staying open to new opportunities that will appear. A reinvention mindset is truly a win-win skillset.

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