ThePeopleAlchemist Edit: Be your best self - #SmashYourCeiling, change starts from within -Business & Lifestyle Experimentation for #TheWomanAlchemist

Hello and welcome back everyone! In our last blog, we looked at ‘The Power of Resilience’, and this has led to some interesting conversations – thank you for your valued insights. Resilience is your ability to bounce back from situations. There are seven key components to resilience, more on that in our blogs to come. However, today we will focus on just two: how to Cope and to Control. So, let’s jump right in, shall we?

To cope and To control

One of our most talked-about points surrounding resilience is along the lines of dealing with disappointments. We all experience disappointments, whether they’re changes to travel plans due to COVID-19, that promotion you were sure you’d get, or even a delayed delivery of an online purchase… it can be anything that not only upsets your day, but affects your mood, too. And yes, I agree that this is easier said than done – however, a little trick I use is to look at these disappointments as ‘twists’ in our overall story. Like all great stories, twists are needed in our everyday lives, and we can either learn from them or succumb to them.

Coping with disappointments

To turn those lemons into limoncello is no easy process. You must catch the lemons thrown at you, cut and squeeze them down to the last drop before you can really enjoy it. As you deal with those lemons, you end up learning which to catch, and which to avoid, as well as which of the fruits are sweeter… In the same way, not all disappointments can be advantageous, but through dealing with them, you learn which are most beneficial to you. The trick is to stop. To pause. To take a moment to breathe. Look at how this situation impacts your life, and whether it is all in your head. You can read all about this in my book.

Controlling your situation

Taking that moment of pause doesn’t mean you’ve dealt with the situation. You still must act, do the necessary work in making that lemonade. So, look at the ‘disappointment’ and the role it plays in your story. Look at the changes you must make to accommodate the shift in plans – and look at what you can fill in this new gap that is created and take control. Make a list and tick off what has been done – and what you must still do. Shift and apply change management techniques. Pick up the phone and talk to whoever has your back. And please, listen to your body! If you are feeling overwhelmed, it helps to know that everything that we are facing now is a true reflection of our resilience. The pandemic that we are facing, the job losses, the face masks, the added need for safety. And yet, look at us thrive. We have brought our offices into our rooms, sanitisation is now a habit, and we make those masks look fabulous! We can rest assured that we can absolutely deal with whatever there is to come. Our resilience is proven and our abilities to cope and to control are enhanced. You are the author of your story – don’t cast out your book because of a single page. In the same light, this is a story to be continued in our blogs to come. See you soon x