Have you ever yelled out in frustration, simultaneously knowing that you shouldn’t be so upset while also feeling that in your case, you’re pretty justified in your throw-out-the-computer anger?
Glad it’s not just me.
I’ve never considered myself to be a “Mac person.” I don’t buy every new gadget and was never one of those purists who risked a cracked screen to showcase the “unaltered beauty of the product.” My anxiety level just won’t allow for that.
But I recently started a new job, and for the first time in a decade, I have to use a PC.
Everything is different. The mouse feels different and the keys feel different and I’ve had to use the Gmail “undo” trick one too many times for my liking.
And when I say different, I mean worse.
But after whispering sweet nothings like “this is the worst computer ever” while working on a Powerpoint deck (Powerpoint is still a thing?! Not even Google Slides??), I had to check myself.
Different doesn’t equal worse.
Different does demand some learning. Some rewiring. Some effort.
Of course, sometimes, different is worse. I’m not trying to make light of that. If you’re struggling with a change, your frustration and pain might be merited.
The hard part isn’t evaluating your change. We can see the difference pretty easily if we’re being honest. Decreased battery life is objectively on the “con” list, but using Ctrl + C instead of Command + C isn’t.
The hard part is taking time to evaluate at all.
Evaluating your change requires you to take a step back and reflect–something you might naturally skip in the middle of a tough transition.
But that time gives you the opportunity to lighten your load. You can check yourself when your frustration is rooted in resisting newness and give yourself grace in the times you need it.
We need both nudges in life, and when we give ourselves the space, we know when to use them.
To being better without cursing Bill Gates,
Elizabeth