Humans tend to have a pretty complex relationship with change. Some changes we initiate and others we rail against, some we celebrate, while some threaten to undo us. Oddly, even though we all know that “the only constant is change,” most of us tend to live our lives like nothing can, will, or should actually change. 

Recently, I was listening to a podcast with a guest who was being interviewed for his newest book about making change. He mentioned that in medical school, he had an anatomy professor who told the class that in five years time, fifty percent of what they were being taught would be inaccurate. 

On one hand, that’s pretty shocking, but on the other, seems about right. I can personally think of many “facts” I learned in school that are no longer considered accurate – the one that immediately springs to mind is the (so called) “taste bud map.” For many years, people believed that certain tastes corresponded with different areas of the tongue – salty, bitter, sour and sweet. In actuality (and according to Wired magazine) we have “taste buds doing all sorts of things, all over the tongue.” 

Now let’s be honest, the consequences of this information no longer being true are pretty low stakes. Maybe you’d look a little silly if you talked about it at a party, but that would probably only be the case if anyone else knew this was wrong or was bold enough to correct you in public. 

But there are lots of other situations where wrong information could have bigger consequences, say, if you used outdated safety or hiring/firing protocols. 

So what to do with the idea that what we think we know isn’t always going to be accurate? 

First, remember (and we covered this in the first paragraph) that the only constant really is change. At Corona Consulting, we like to say that “conditions change.” Contrary to what we think, expect, or want, things are evolving all the time. Things you once liked no longer hold sway, “crucial” skills you previously relied on are no longer beneficial. People move on, tastes change, however you want to say it, conditions really do change and that’s normal. 

Second, remember that you can change too. Your mind, your opinion, your beliefs, they can (and likely need to) grow and evolve as you do. Now that doesn’t mean you won’t have constant beliefs or opinions, but even those may have a different reasoning or deeper felt conviction as time goes on. For example, maybe the origin of your belief in fair wages started while you were a student, struggling to make ends meet. As time went on, your belief stayed constant, but it became more about wanting everyone to have equal access to a better life. Same conviction, but an evolution of its reasoning.

Third, no matter what my hyperbole loving heart sometimes believes, everything does not change all at once. It may feel like it, but it just isn’t true. You may change jobs, but you still drink out of the same mug every morning. You may get a new phone, but you call and message the same people with it.

Fourth, when things really matter, do your fact checking, get a second opinion, do whatever you need to do to be sure you are up to date. Your community can be of real value to you in this area. Lean into your colleagues in HR, safety and any other experts who can help guide you. 

But what if you don’t realize something is important or that conditions have changed and you went with the “same old, same old.”  The final piece of advice I would have for you is to stay humble. No learning happens without humility. If you mess up, be honest and own it, then be kind to yourself and others as you make the necessary repairs. 

A new year is a definite example of “conditions changing.” You don’t control the calendar, it happened whether or not you were ready for it and now you are expected to get on board. And even though you know there has been a change, your mind will still work against you. You will use your new calendar, but it may take several months before writing 2025 seems natural. This is completely normal, so embrace the new year, but don’t feel bad when you write 2024. 

In a way, it’s a little sad that the taste bud map is no longer accurate. It felt so well defined and like something we could count on. But honestly, we should have known that taste and taste buds are way more chaotic. And just like change, there will always be parts that are salty, sour, bitter and sweet.