Cat·a·lyst
noun: catalyst; plural noun: catalysts
- a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change. “chlorine acts as a catalyst promoting the breakdown of ozone”
- a person or thing that precipitates an event.”the governor’s speech acted as a catalyst for debate”
Change is a funny thing.
There are the times that we would rather avoid it. The times that we crave it, but are unsure about which direction to pursue. The times when it is needed, yet we fail to see that need.
I’ve been browsing through my personal catalog of these moments, in both life and work. (This is not meant to sound either dramatic or catastrophic.) There was the moment a less than helpful literary agent, informed me a ghost writer was required if I was to be published. Or the moment it became blatantly evident that the economic crisis of 2009, was not the time to re-enter the workforce. There was that blow-up with a dear friend that has really never fully resolved. I could go on, but I won’t. We have all experienced detours, deeply felt disappointments & grueling realities.
Moments that shook us from our foundation and changes our course.
I did intend to choose one situation and discuss it in detail — and then write you a prescription of sorts. However, I simply could not choose. I couldn’t call out one of these moments, analyze it (once again), sort through the antecedents and discuss the eventual outcomes.
That didn’t feel right somehow.
My gut told me something else.
To look at these moments as a group.
As a cohort, so to speak.
My feeling was that we should talk about catalyst moments in our lives for what they mean as a whole. What they may not always be. Why they are important & how we might need them.
A few thoughts on the topic:
- We might not notice them. You might think of a catalyst moment as the pivotal scene of a great movie. However to be honest, these moments are not always completely obvious. We can be moving through a “long-haul” catalyst moment and actually writing it off as something else. The setback may be that you are slowly “withering on the vine” career-wise. Or that you are remaining true to a career path or a friends group that no longer aligns with who you might be as an individual. Evolution (and progress for that matter) can also be slow & subtle, yet every bit as disruptive.
- We actually deserve them (hear me out). Not all catalyst moments are negative. They can be moments of realization. Of growth. While these might clearly present as an unexpected challenge — they can also take the form of an opportunity to shift our paths for the better. To possibly move through,life & career in a very different way. If we can recognize at least some of these moments sooner, they may not affect our lives & livelihoods so precipitously.
- We should listen more. I know of countless articles that articulate how we should quiet the nagging voices in our heads. The fact is, we may need to listen more and notice what is building. To possibly detect what catalyst moment is lurking along the horizon. Have you noticed your attention drifting toward another path, role or industry? Seeing signals that your life is headed for a shift? What is stuck (and possibly stinging) in the back of your mind that you may not want to address? You might actually detect your next catalyst moment already lingering in the mist on that horizon.
I apologize this post has taken a hard turn away from the prescriptive advice that might have been offered if a single setback was discussed. But, I assure you if you peruse my other articles, you’ll find that as well.
Marla Gottschalk, Ph.D. is an I/O Psychology Practitioner who explores core stability and the dynamic nature of work life. A charter member of the LinkedIn Top Voice Program, she speaks to teams & organizations on how to build stronger foundations through the practice of core stability. Her thoughts on work life have appeared at the Harvard Business Review, The World Economic Forum, Forbes, BBC Work Life, Quartz and The Huffington Post
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