Overwhelmed By Change? Watch an Old Movie.

Movies are great things to study because they not only tell us a story but also tell us about the values, dreams, and shortcomings of the time when they were made.

Check out a film from 20 years ago. Pay attention to the music, the fashion, and the pacing. Sometimes, you'll laugh as I do when I see people doing things like talking on enormous cell phones. You may also interpret the film differently because you're watching it at a different point in you life. Suddenly, you may have new insight into a character's motivations.

The goal is to realize that not that long ago, things were much different. But since we experience life in a day to day fashion, we don't notice these changes and shifts in our lives. People are actually quite flexible in how they can change and deal with new challenges. To paraphrase the popular ad: "We've come a long way, baby."

The global economic slowdown has produced a ton of unexpected changes and and challenges. Remember that you are not new to living with the unknown. You've probably experienced more of it than you think.

Sore Muscles But a Happy Mind

Today one of my fitness buddies invited me to check out her new gym. Our plan was to do a two hour workout. The first class we took was spinning. I'm used to this cycle workout and enjoyed being on a newer model of stationary bike.

Then we did an hour long boot camp. This is a mixture of cardiovascular work and weight lifting. This was something new for me and I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow. The workout is pretty much nonstop. The challenge was adjusting to different range of motion while exercising. Muscles I'd forgotten about, reintroduced themselves.

The class was a great reminder of the importance of having variety in our lives. While I'm in good shape, the boot camp showed me that there are still aspects of fitness where I can improve. This lesson can also apply to our professional lives. Learning a new skill is a great way to exercise your mental muscles. Often you can find yourself in a bit of a rut. Challenging yourself with something new stimulates your mind and keeps you sharp.