2025 Is a Game of Tetris!
How to Navigate Change While Trying to Reach the Next Level.
Does anyone else feel they are living in a game of Tetris this year? For the record, I’m in my 50’s and Tetris was my game. I was really good at! I'll admit, I spent way too many hours chasing my personal best, leveling up, and trying to stay ahead of the falling pieces
I’ve recently worked with several teams as they planned their meetings to bring everyone together and share their vision for the year ahead. Whether it’s an RKO (Revenue Kickoff), Executive Offsite, Annual Strategy Retreat, or Leadership Summit, these gatherings are all about setting the tone, aligning goals, and mapping out the path to big wins in 2025. And during these conversations, one analogy keeps coming to mind…
Tetris - Just when we think we’ve got things lined up neatly, another piece drops out of nowhere, forcing us to shift, adjust, and make the best move possible. Even when we nail it, we have no idea what shape is coming next, and the pace keeps speeding up. Sound familiar?
Uncertainty is everywhere. Technology is advancing at breakneck speed, AI is reshaping entire industries, and the workplace is constantly evolving beneath our feet. One moment, we’re adjusting to remote work; the next, we’re navigating hybrid models, AI-driven automation, and shifting leadership strategies. On top of that, economic fluctuations, global conflicts, and political divides are like throwing gas on the growing uncertainty we haven’t seen in decades.
And we are human, so all of this is colliding with the deeply personal realities of raising families, paying bills, and striving to build a life that feels meaningful.
It’s no wonder people feel exhausted.
Recent data shows a significant portion of Americans are reporting increased levels of exhaustion and anxiety, and one study found that 33% of Americans made mental health related New Year's resolutions for 2025.
The reality is, the world isn’t going to slow down. If anything, change is accelerating, so we need to get better at it to 'win' at this game called life. That’s the good news: You can learn to navigate change better without losing yourself in the process.
Your Brain on Change: Why Uncertainty Feels So Unsettling
There’s a reason why change, especially unpredictable change, feels so overwhelming. Your brain is wired for stability. Neuroscientists have found that uncertainty activates the amygdala, the part of the brain that processes fear. When faced with unknowns, your body floods with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, preparing you for fight or flight. (Thank you cortisol, for my expanding waistline)
This is why so many of us respond to uncertainty with overwhelm, frustration, or even paralysis. We sort of shut down! Our brains perceive change as a threat, even if no immediate danger exists.
They key is, ‘Uncertainty’ itself isn’t the problem, it’s our reaction to it that determines how we experience it.
And if we think about Tetris, holding out for the "perfect" piece isn’t a strategy, it’s a mistake. The game rewards adaptability, quick decision-making, and the ability to work with what you’ve got, even when it’s not ideal. If you waste time waiting for the ideal moment, the pieces stack up, and suddenly, you're overwhelmed.
Reframing Change: How to Take Back Control
You may not be able to control what’s happening in the world, or what is coming next, but you CAN control how you respond. The key is shifting your mindset from resisting uncertainty to navigating it. We can control how we respond.
Here’s how:
I am using 'THIS Framework' to handle whatever 'THIS' is, that you are struggling with at the moment.
T – Timeline: Find Perspective
Change feels chaotic in the moment, but zooming out reveals a bigger picture. Look back at past challenges, things you once thought you wouldn’t overcome. You made it through. You adapted. And chances are, you became stronger because of it.
Instead of seeing uncertainty as a roadblock, try viewing it as a point at which you get to make a choice. Some of the best things in life, the most unexpected wins, come from changes we never planned for.
What if this uncertainty is actually an opportunity you didn’t see coming? Success in Tetris (and life) comes from scanning the landscape, making the best move in the moment, and keeping an eye on what’s coming
H – Humans: Don’t Go It Alone
Stress thrives in isolation. (read that again…) When life feels uncertain, it’s tempting to retreat inward. But connection is one of the most powerful antidotes to fear.
You have to let someone in. Who in your life lifts you up? Who reminds you of what you’re capable of? Lean on those people. Talk through your thoughts. Surround yourself with those who help you focus on what’s possible, not just what’s wrong.
I – Isolate: Focus on What You Can Control
Your brain loves to fill in the blanks with worst-case scenarios. But here’s the truth: 91% of the things we worry about never actually happen. (one Cornell study said 85, but another said 91 – so I am going with it)
Instead of getting stuck in what-ifs, bring yourself back to what is. Ask yourself:
✅ What’s within my control right now? (Your attitude, your actions, your choices.)
✅ What’s outside of my control? (Other people’s decisions, the economy, the news.)
✅ Where is my energy best spent? (On things you can influence.)
Taking action, no matter how small, shifts your focus from fear to forward momentum. The piece you get isn’t always the one you want, but you can always find a way to make it fit.
S – Story: Change the Narrative
The words you think and say out loud, shape your experience of change. If you call something a disaster, it will feel like one. If you call it a challenge, you’ll start looking for solutions.
Some of the biggest transformations in my life started as unexpected detours - very unexpected and not at all what I had planned. I could have called them failures. I could have let them define me. Instead, I rewrote the story, and you can, too.
Final Thought: You Are Built for This
Right now, the world feels uncertain. The Tetris pieces are falling fast and keep speeding up.
The workplace is evolving. The economy is unpredictable. And for each of us, life’s personal challenges may not slow down anytime soon. But amidst all of this, one thing remains true:
You are built for change.
Your brain can be trained to handle uncertainty with clarity instead of fear. Your mindset can shift from resistance to resilience. And your actions, no matter how small, can move you forward in ways you never imagined.
So don’t panic when the speed picks up. Resisting change doesn’t slow it down. The key is staying calm and adjusting one move at a time.
So today, take a deep breath. Focus on what you can control. You are placing the pieces into the puzzle, making the best choices you can, with what you know. And remind yourself, this moment of uncertainty is just that: a moment.
In the end, life, just like Tetris, isn’t about achieving perfection. It’s about making the best possible choices with what’s in front of you and keeping the game going.
You’ve handled change before. And you’ll do it again. The game is not over till you stop playing. Stay in the game!
You got THIS.