Madonna still does it constantly.
David Bowie did it for all of his career.
Justin Bieber does it continuously.
Always reinventing themselves.
Always evolving into a new purpose.
A personal revolution.
Changing.
Adapting.
Evolve or die.
And it can be difficult for most of us mere mortals.
After having done something, perhaps one thing, for a very, very long time.
And then suddenly having that one thing taken away.
Some of us choose to change our purpose.
Such as when we change careers.
But I would dare say that most of us do not choose to change our purpose.
Our purpose’s are changed for us.
Through job loss.
Through personal loss.
Through change that we cannot control.
Through a health crisis.
All that we knew and loved, all that gave us a reason to get up for the day, gone.
Like the gossamer of a spider web in the breeze.
Imagine being a soldier.
And that was your purpose.
And then suddenly, the war is over.
You are sent home.
That purpose, that raison d’etre, as the French say, that “reason for being”, is suddenly evaporated.
It can be tragic for some.
To suddenly feel unwanted, without purpose, without a reason for being, or even living.
And sometimes, those drastic and unscheduled changes can take a terrible toll.
On our physical, mental and emotional health and well being.
The proverbial rug has been pulled out from beneath us.
And we do not know what to do.
It is then that we must look within.
To try to find our new reinvention.
A new purpose.
A new reason for being.
And it can be very difficult.
Daunting.
Change is always scary.
And how well we, as humans, deal with that change, is what sets us apart.
Madonna, David Bowie and Justin Bieber make it look easy.
Always changing, evolving, to adapt to their new audiences.
The artists and musicians and performers who don’t do that are in danger of becoming one hit wonders.
But if we want longevity, then resilience and determination are key.
And fortunately, those traits are all incorporated into our very human DNA.
For without those attributes, without those qualities, the human race would have perished long ago.
The challenge is to find our new purpose.
To find the new reason that will get us out of bed in the morning.
It could be a new hobby.
It could be something as simple as going for a walk each day.
Yes, we are allowed to mourn and to grieve the passing of our original purpose.
Perhaps even feel sorry for ourselves for a short time.
That is all part of the process.
Our own personal healing.
And then it is time to move on.
To embrace the new 2.0 version of ourselves.
And see what the new future holds.