Get through any struggle with these 5 steps
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All of us wrestle with things that are tricky to navigate, or find ourselves in situations where communication is challenging, or on paths with obstacles we need to navigate.
Sometimes there’s a tough decision or choice to be made. Sometimes there is someone in a dynamic with whom we do not see eye-to-eye. Sometimes an important boundary needs to be set and held.
It is easy to feel engulfed in emotion, indecision, frustration, and even anger.
Stress mounts, and stress can cloud your thinking. That makes things even harder. Stress can highjack your attention to a degree that you miss out on positive experiences and possibilities.
Can you relate?
Maybe something like that is happening right now, or a situation in the past springs to mind.
As a coach, I support great women as they move through all sorts of challenges. And I, too, face challenges like these.
Here are steps to take that I use, that may help you move through and forward to minimize struggle.
Follow these 5 steps to get started
1. Make space to pause and think clearly
In stressful situations, it’s tempting to push forward and act on your first impulse.
When you choose to sit quietly and think, you can aim to consider the situation free of emotion (whether it’s fear, anger, or frustration at another person or the situation).
You may want to journal, or take a brisk walk to clear your head.
Can you reframe your take on things, or gain more perspective on all of it? You may want to ask someone to help you see things with keener objectivity.
2. Make a plan
This is the time to chart a course forward.
From a place of calm and greater clarity, perhaps having considered multiple possibilities, you may realize you want help from someone with particular expertise or experience.
What is the best approach you can determine now? What boundaries and guardrails will be important to put in place?
Your plan may not be “perfect” or work out smoothly. That’s ok.
The key is to get things started, knowing you can make adjustments and modifications as events unfold.
3. Take action
With a plan of action in hand, it is time to implement.
Seek out resources you may need.
When written and/or verbal communication are needed, aim for clarity free of judgement or drama.
And be aware that as you move forward you may well find yourself returning to steps 1 and 2. (Or, remind yourself that you can use those steps again!)
4. Process your emotions
As noted in item 1 above, a range of emotions can be present at the start of the process, and emotions will continue to be a factor until — and even after — there is resolution.
Processing your emotions as you move forward is important. Trying to ignore your feelings, or deny them, may seem expedient, but is not advised.
Take time to be with the fear, or frustration, or disappointment, or anger.
Some people scream into a pillow.
Some get the emotion out by running or hitting the gym.
Some pour their emotions onto pages in a journal or onto a canvas in hideous colors.
Some ask a trusted friend to let them vent.
Find what works for you and give yourself time to wring it all out. You may need to repeat the process. It is rare that one round does the trick.
Your objective is to get to a place where the charge is released, your heart feels open, and you can think as calmly and clearly as possible.
5. Stay in the process until it is resolved
It’s easy to initiate a plan, gain some traction and want things to be ”done” before they are, in fact, resolved.
Even if you feel impatient, even if the process is uncomfortable or becomes more uncomfortable over time, stay committed to seeing it through to a point of resolution.
Be sure to include step 6: Let go!
When you have reached a resolution, whether you feel great, or disappointed, or anything in between, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you worked for the best outcome and did it with integrity.
And mixed or negative emotions may linger.
The biggest gift you can give yourself is to let go of any emotions that are not supporting you to be your best, to do your best, and to be as happy as possible.
Use the suggestions in number 4 above to help yourself, so you do not feel stuck or rehash things in ways that hamper you.
When you release any lingering emotions that diminish your wellbeing, you make precious space in your life for more goodness and more opportunities.
And who doesn’t want more of that?
One last thing! There is still a spot available for Live Big Live! this spring. If you have been thinking this could be your time to step into creating your most fulfilling, empowered future, email me and we’ll make a date to talk.
