What it’s all about
Self-management is the ability to structure oneself, set clear priorities, and maintain a harmonious flow in life. Amidst the modern chaos of tasks, demands, and expectations, it is easy to lose perspective, get bogged down in minutiae, or remain stuck in ineffective patterns. Here, the process of Rethinking serves as a guiding force, helping us pause, reassess from new angles, and develop innovative approaches to both our personal and professional lives.
The image, featuring two simple white chairs in front of a turquoise wooden wall, offers a striking yet straightforward metaphor. The wall, with its firm, parallel lines, symbolises structure, constancy, and order. The two chairs, empty and facing forward, invite reflection, contemplation, and dialogue. They represent the silent space we must create to think over ourselves and our decisions. The emptiness of the chairs is not a symbol of loneliness but of possibility – the invitation to take a seat and open oneself to new ways of thinking.
The Metaphor in Detail
The wall is our everyday life, shaped by routines, rules, and the framework of our past experiences. This structure is inevitable and necessary – it holds us upright, offering stability and guidance. However, the chairs, in contrast to the rigid wall, stand for flexibility, change, and openness. They suggest space for reflection, the possibility to step back from the firm structure and view it from a detached perspective.
This metaphor conveys an essential message: structure and order are vital, but equally important is the space for introspection and self-dialogue. Rethinking in self-management means finding the balance between these two elements – structure on one hand and the flexibility to see things differently on the other.
A Rethinking Tip for Your Personal Life
Create a weekly “Silent Space” for yourself – a moment of absolute reflection. Use this time consciously to question a specific pattern or habit in your life. Symbolically sit on one of the “chairs” and contemplate what your current structure is (the “wall” in your life). Ask yourself: Does this structure support my wellbeing? Can I initiate a change in my daily routines or relationships that will lead to a more fulfilling life? The first step is realising that you need a period of “emptiness” to think anew – only then can genuine transformation begin.
A Rethinking Tip for Your Professional Life
In the professional context, the image symbolises the need to regularly step back from the “structure” of work. Symbolically take a seat on the second “chair” and reflect on the processes and working methods in your daily routine. The question you should ask is: Which work methods or task structures are rigid and could benefit from an alternative approach? Regularly create time slots in your work schedule, not just to tick off to-do lists, but to actively think about how you can structure your work more strategically and innovatively. This shift in perspective, from working within the structure to working on the structure, is the key to sustainable professional success.
Conclusion
The metaphor of the chairs and the wall reminds us that effective self-management arises from the harmony between structure and flexibility. We need the solid foundation of everyday life, but also the space for reflection and dialogue – with ourselves and with our work. Only by regularly pausing and critically questioning our routines can we meaningfully reshape both our lives and our work, continuously growing and evolving.
In Rethinkography, the aim is not just to do things differently but to think differently – to maintain order while always having the courage to pause, take a seat, and view the world from a fresh perspective.
Note
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R2049 