STILLNESS! “In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you,” as so eloquently stated by Deepak Chopra. The business of life has conditioned us to believe that there always has to be the next step, and it has to be right now. The next thing has to happen to abscond stagnation. The next thing has to happen to show that we are strong and can persevere. The next thing has to happen because the show must go on.
The fallacy in this notion of “Next” is that it has to happen immediately. If Plan A doesn’t work, then move on to Plan B…right now. Well, it appears that circumstances have changed for us, and we’ve run out of letters. Left with ideas but no deadlines. The face of our future has changed, and maybe not for the worst, but it can be hard to see the horizon of positivity at times.
While I appreciate the messages that encourage changing direction in a crisis; redesign, redevelop, create something new, change now…I prefer the message of Pause Before You Pivot. The Pause is necessary to create space for an acknowledgment that crisis or chaos happened or is happening. That chaos was not requested and most likely a situation that we don’t want to stay in our lives, but it is here. Acknowledgment provides time to take inventory of what is left.
How can you manage yourself in the midst of chaos:
Scan: Take a look at your surroundings, your life, your behavior. Before stepping into the next thing, you need to have a handle on what you have. According to Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, basic physiological and safety needs serve as the foundation for behavioral motivation. Do you have the basics of food, water, shelter, rest, safety, and security? If not, what needs to happen to get those needs met? Who do you know that can help you identify resources to get those needs met? What strengths can you employ during this time?
Create: Craft a plan to meet your needs. Of course, this may include looking for employment or tapping into community resources to get the things you need. What about creating more space in your life for things that you can’t get back. Time with family and friends, expanding knowledge through reading, journaling, decluttering, starting a new hobby, or just taking time to rest.
Move: Now that you have taken inventory of your life, crafted a plan to get some needs met, put that plan into action. As with all action plans, there needs to be a reassessment. You may have identified a resource or a point person, only to find that it is a dead-end. Pause again…and see where you’re at, then take another route.
Bonus: Hold on to hope! The plan may have to change, but that does not equate to your mission being completed wiped out. The Pivot can be uncomfortable and often stops us from making the most important changes in our lives. I like to believe that there is healing on the other side of the Pivot, so enduring through the work is well worth it.
Renew Your Life!