Caught Mid-Change

The feeling was real. The story was still unfolding.

An owl looks deeply unimpressed. A bear appears to be doing crunches. An orangutan makes a gesture that probably wouldn’t go over well in a staff meeting.

The BBC’s collection of funny wildlife photographs made me laugh. It also made me think about how quickly we give a single moment a story.

We see an expression and decide what it means. We do it with animals, with colleagues, and with ourselves.

I have what’s commonly called “resting bitch face.” Sometimes my face looks unimpressed when I’m simply thinking. Other times, it’s giving a fairly accurate report.

Change can catch me in either state.

I’d love to say I always meet unexpected news with curiosity and a thoughtful question. Sometimes I do. Sometimes my face responds before I’ve had a chance to decide what I think.

A new direction. A decision I wasn’t expecting. Another shift just as I was getting comfortable with the last one.

If someone took a photograph at that exact moment, they might capture surprise, irritation, skepticism, or an expression that says, “You cannot be serious.”

Each could be an honest moment. None would necessarily tell you where I eventually landed.

My face may need a minute

In the corporate world, tact matters. Our expressions and words affect the people around us, especially when they’re looking to us for direction. An unguarded reaction from a leader can carry more weight than intended.

I’m responsible for how I respond. But being caught off guard doesn’t mean I’ve failed at navigating change. Even with years of experience helping others through it, I still need time to process my own.

Knowing the frameworks doesn’t prevent the feelings.

Sometimes I need a breath before answering. Sometimes I need to ask a question rather than share my first opinion. Sometimes the most useful thing I can say is, “Let me think about that.”

That small pause gives me room to understand what’s happening—and what my reaction is telling me.

That was how I felt then

I’m learning to give myself grace to move through the full range of emotions before deciding what a change means to me.

I can be frustrated initially and become curious later. I can understand the reasoning behind a decision and still feel disappointed. I can feel excited about an opportunity, then discover that it also brings uncertainty.

Looking back, I may realize that I was reacting to the way the news arrived, the lack of information, or the feeling that something important had been decided without me.

Sometimes my perspective shifts once I understand more. Sometimes my original concern holds up, but I find a more constructive way to express it.

There’s no requirement to end every change story feeling grateful. There is an opportunity to ask:

“That was how I felt then. What do I see now?”

Grace leaves room for accountability

Giving myself space to feel doesn’t mean every response gets a free pass.

Anger may be understandable. The email sent while angry may deserve another look. Fear may be real. The conclusion that I cannot handle what comes next may need revisiting.

Sometimes I need to return to a conversation and say, “That caught me off guard. I’ve had some time to think, and here’s where I am now.”

Sometimes I need to acknowledge that my tone landed harder than I intended.

I can respect the feeling and take responsibility for what I did with it. Both belong in the process.

Leave room for the next frame

Those wildlife photographs capture a fraction of a second. We supply much of the story.

At work, we can do something similar. A colleague goes quiet, and we assume disengagement. Someone asks a difficult question, and we hear resistance. We have an uncomfortable meeting and decide we’re out of our depth.

Before settling on that interpretation, perhaps we can leave room for another frame.

The quiet colleague may be processing. The question may reveal something we need to address. The awkward meeting may be one part of learning a new role.

And my expression? I may need a minute.

Being caught mid-change means the story is still unfolding. I want to remember that when I look back at myself—and when someone else’s face tells me they’re having a moment of their own.

Pause & Reflect

Think of a change that caught you off guard.

• What did you feel first?

• What meaning did you attach to the situation?

• What do you understand now that you didn’t understand then?

• Where do you land today—and what do you want to do next?

Give yourself enough grace to answer honestly. Your first reaction is part of your experience. You get to decide how you move forward from it.

Inspired by the BBC’s “10 of the funniest animal photos of 2026”, featuring photographs from the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards.