3 Resilience Tips for Turbulent Times
Well hello there 2020! I’m welcoming you with open arms!
2019 was a massively turbulent year (and still continuing right?!)– politically, environmentally, societally – we’re living through extraordinary times.
There’s been lots of transition for me personally – in my business, in my family - maybe for you too.
I’ve been feeling all the feels and it’s been a bumpy, hot mess at times!
Resilience is all about how we navigate the uncertainty and turbulence of our lives, and learn to thrive despite the circumstances.
Tough circumstances are not to be denied, ignored, blamed or even regretted. These challenges and transitions help us to grow, change, learn, s t r e t c h ourselves.
And I know that in my head (this is what I teach and coach for my clients) yet sometimes when you’re in the mess, you’re just IN it and it’s hard!
When things felt very murky and unstable at times last year, I knew I didn’t have to immediately make sense of it all, tie a ribbon, dot the is and cross all the ts.
I could choose to live with the ambiguity and messiness, with the frustration and lack of clarity.
I knew there’d be rich lessons and wisdom coming (I definitely could not access that at the time).
So I tried to be open to the process, be kind to myself, and embrace the bumpiness of the experience.
What I’m learning is that the things that are tough for us, help to show us where we can grow . This applies in personal lives, it also applies in our communities and wider society.
When we’re ‘disrupted’ new ways can emerge. Over time our perspectives shift and we start to see things differently.
I’ve learnt that after a big disruption or change, the healing takes longer than we think. We may be encouraged to get back up and press on, but sometimes we need to sit with the feelings of hurt, shock, fragility, disappointment.
Learning to be ok with that is perhaps my biggest challenge. I want to feel the pain, make the changes I need to make, move on!
I’m learning to embrace a slower pace rather than rush or push to be on the ‘other side’.
What about you?
What does transition and living through turbulence look and feel like for you?
When we’re living through turbulent times and transition it’s ESSENTIAL to dig into our own self care, the rhythms that help us stay grounded and showing up the way we want to show up.
It’s not selfish or a distraction from your ‘real work’ – it IS your work!
When you say ‘I don’t have time to practice self-care and prioritise my wellbeing’ I say you don’t have time NOT to prioritise your self-care and wellbeing.
When you say ‘but self-care seems so selfish’ I say it’s selfish NOT to prioritise your own wellbeing. A burnt-out, jaded, cynical version of you is not a good look. We put on our own oxygen masks first, THEN we can help those around us. Or another analogy: we fill up others’ cups from the overflow of our own.
Here are 3 of the practical things that helped me survive, even thrive, through some tough times last year:
Rock solid, short, daily practices that I use to prioritise my own wellbeing – these #powerpractices help me feel how I want to feel, and keep me on track in my leadership and daily life.
Calling-in support from others. As I hit the buffers mid 2019, I sent out a helpline to a few trusted people and also intentionally put myself out there for new connections. My comfort zone is being the ‘strong’ one, being the one who offers the help, so asking for support and connection took some swallowing! I refreshed a supervision group with other leadership coaches, which offers amazing support and accountability, I joined a community of female founders, and I made sure I had regular catchup with friends in my diary.
Going deeper. When we’re ‘disrupted’ through circumstances our deeper drivers, motivators and some less healthy behavioural patterns get revealed. This is an invitation to go deeper, to grow in our self awareness, to develop new healthier habits, and to allow a fresh level of healing and growth. I started seeing a therapist to help me do the deeper work that the circumstances of last year were calling me to.
It took a while for all this support to kick in – sometimes there’s a lag between asking and receiving! But once it did it was healing and I’m so grateful.
Living well through times of transition and turbulence is not a one trick over and done moment. 2020 looks like it’s going to have plenty of challenges, uncertainty, and volatility! Our self care habits and patterns are ESSENTIAL as we navigate the year ahead.
Over to you:
What are the things that help you to thrive not just survive through these turbulent times? What are the daily practices that help you? I’d love to hear!
How and where do you access support and accountability from others, as you grow in your leadership and navigate turbulent times ? I’d love to hear!
What are the patterns in your life and leadership that disruption and transition reveals to you? Do you need to go deeper?
Next steps and further resources
Follow Katy on Instagram stories for daily prompts, templates and nudges to prioritise your wellbeing (p.s while also boosting your happiness and productivity).
Curious for more support and accountability? Book a discovery call to explore coaching 1-1 with Katy, it’s free.
