The seven-year itch
The phrase the seven-year itch originated as a name for irritating and contagious skin complaints of a long duration (like scabies). Later on in the 19th and early 20th centuries it was viewed as an expression to describe an unfavorable situation with little hope for relief. After the famous romantic comedy The Seven Year Itch (1955) with Marilyn Monroe the movie helped to popularize its usage to refer to the decrease of romantic feelings between married couples over time.
The phrase has since expanded to indicate cycles of dissatisfaction not only in interpersonal relationships but in any situation such as the work you do, the kind of house you live in, the sofa you sit on, etc. where a decrease in happiness and satisfaction is often seen over long periods of time.
Being bored, lack of fulfillment, repetition of the same steps you know already, not enough stimulus, no appetite to start work again after holidays... that is how the itching manifest itself. In a person, in a team, in an organization.
This unrest needs to be addressed, if not, it leads to declination, things falling apart, like nearly happened in that movie with that marriage.
For many of the clients I work with, this renewal of inspiration plays a role. I help them to find clear focus, a shared perspective, long term strategic overview, the outlines of the road ahead, and to set the next steps on the translation of the 'why' to the 'how'. After the first steps the habit of change is normally easy to continue itself.
For myself: reflecting my 7-years of existence I do realize where I feel the itching. Not in the 'why', see the rest of my site for my unchanged drive. Not in the 'what': I still like complexity, the challenge to disassemble a seemingly inextricable knot – in people, in organizations. And help them to bring it back to little parts they can handle at the time. And not in the 'where': I have a special call for difficult countries and situations.
But the 'how', yes here I want to improve.
The next years I want to become even better in the art of simplicity. Looking for and developing new tools. Simple but sharp. Like the picture of this garden-knife from Afghanistan. With the aim:
- to bring the real things out from deep under water to the light of the surface
- to get rid of hindering and unnecessary issues
- to help shape a new reality that makes sense
Starting the next seven years under the motto less is more.
You want to know what HildeConsult can do for you? Take up contact to talk it through.