Snow Psychology

Snow reveals the shapes upon which it falls, letting us see the world afresh. It’s reveals what’s underneath as if for the first time, and so it has been for me with peoples reactions to the recent bit of snow in the UK. Because the amount of snow we have received here is out of the ordinary and has caused a disruption in many day to day activities, we have experienced a societal “break in transparency.” This is a term used by the Newfield coaching course I am currently on which refers to a noticeable interruption in regular activity. What I have observed in the streets on my Facebook and Twitter accounts is a collective snow psychology of “Oh, things have changed,” followed by one of two general responses:

– Annoyance at the “Problem”
“Isn’t it bad, I can get to XXX, do what I planned, achieve my set goals,” etc.

– Wonder and Opportunity
“Great! Let’s have a snowball fight and take cool pictures of us doing snow angels. Isn’t it pretty anyway and the streets are so peaceful now,” etc.

Notice the situation is basically the same for everyone but attitudes and reactions are very different. Neither group chose their response in most cases I’m guessing, but anyone who did would surely choose the latter. Once you’ve accepted what you can’t change all that’s left is to see what is to be enjoyed in it.

The snow has also revealed peoples attitudes to their work – most people I know are delighted to use it as an excuse not to work or miserable that they can’t. I love what I do so this wasn’t what was on my mind, and my recommendation would be to take the rest of your life off if you hate what you do so much, and not wait for the weather to dictate if you are allowed to be happy. What the flurry of snowball fights and groups making snowmen showed me is a dire need for play, creativity and human connection day to day which isn’t normally met. The shared challenge and wonder brings out people’s social selves and helps British people break their normal sad reserve.

Others are just using the snow to do what they’ve always done, whether that be mischief (throw that big lock of ice at me I will kick your arse you glue sniffing teenager), drink (the pubs are full when people can’t get to work) or just go for a walk and then write a blog about what they normally write about anyway….

Keep warm. Stay wonder-ful. It’s all melting…

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Snow Psychology So What: Change reveals who you are. The world needs more play, creativity, jobs that don’t suck, and connection.