Curveballs!
Life can be humming along and then WHAM! You’re thrown a curveball. This can be a health crisis, losing a job, losing a loved one, a divorce, a natural disaster. Curveballs are unexpected and knock us off our feet. For how long, is up to us. There are a few ways in which you can manage curveballs, so you can still swing the bat when they come hurling your way.
- Recalibrate
The first thing we forget to do when we’re in crisis is breathe. There’s a reason why the EMS driver will tell you to count to ten and breathe. Our brains need oxygen to function and think clearly. If the world is spinning around you, remember that you can control your breath. During the darkest days of the pandemic, when I felt like things were spiraling out of control, I came back to my breathing. There are amazing exercises which you can look up online or simply stop, plant both feet firmly on the floor and take five deep belly breaths to recalibrate.
- Assess without judgement
The next step would be to get grounded in the moment and fully present. You will want to assess what’s going on and give yourself the grace to do so without judgement. Meaning that if you’re feeling angry, frustrated, or scared, don’t belittle yourself for those emotions. See them, acknowledge them, assess what’s going on and if you can’t put a fine point on it, sit in the discomfort, close your eyes and listen to what is coming up for you. Ask yourself these questions…
- What am I feeling right now?
- Where am I feeling it?
- What else is going on?
- Set Intentions
If you’re feeling a certain emotion but want or need to feel a more empowering emotion, what is it? Think about how you want to show up. Who needs you to be on you’re a-game, focused and strong? Pick a word that resonates with you and decide how you will practice it. When I lost my Dad suddenly last August, I set the intention to be a leader in my family and my word was courage. I would remind myself that others were depending on me, and I picked one thing a day I could do to demonstrate courage. Decide how you want to show up and how you will practice it.
Ask for and receive support
Take the lifeline damn it! I say this in jest but how often do we know we need help but either don’t ask or we don’t take the help when it’s offered to us. When someone throws you a lifeline in time of crisis, accept the support. Often people don’t know how to support us when we’re in crisis. Let people know how you need and want to be supported. If you’re offering support, ask how you can support. Ask if you’re checking in too much, too little, or just right. We want to be supportive in a way that resonates with the person who needs us.
- Make one move in the right direction!
When life throws us curveballs it can paralyze us. When my business dropped 90% overnight because of the pandemic I was thrown for a loop. I was knocked off kilter. We all were. What’s most important is that we remember that action kicks fears ass. You may not be able to think about tomorrow, next week or next year, I understand that. Think about your next move. What can you do in the new few moments or an hour that will help you feel more in control? Perhaps its simply revisiting point one and breathe. Ask yourself:
“I may not be able to change life’s circumstances but one move that I CAN make today is…”
Remember how strong you are with these questions…
- How did your last curveball develop you?
- What was one blessing that came from it?
- How have you become stronger?
Remember that you are the CEO of YOU INC. You decide how you will respond, what your next move will be and how you will develop because of this challenge, curveball or crisis.
