“Everything in your life is a reflection of a choice you have made. If you want a different result, make a different choice.”
Someone said something that triggered you.
A plan goes horribly wrong and you’re at the helm.
Something changed and you can’t control it.
A seemingly good decision ends up quickly going bad.
Turmoil is defined as a state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty. Moments of turmoil such as those mentioned above are fierce and frequent in today’s constantly evolving world of work. And we often find ourselves looking back thinking, “wow, if only I did X differently.” But that certainly does not have to be the case. In the future, how we lead through turmoil will determine our results and whether we merely survive or choose to thrive.
Here are 3 quick ideas to help you navigate those moments:
- Give yourself permission to feel how you’re feeling. We rush through these moments of turmoil and forget that it’s okay to “feel” during them. While it is natural to want to get through the discomfort quickly and fix the issue at hand, acknowledging that you are feeling however you feel is part of the healing process and will likely help you emerge stronger on the other side. It can also be an exercise to help you become more aware of that feeling should it emerge again down the road.
- Call attention to how you feel. I had a dinner meeting recently with a Neuropsychologist who explained that by physically stating whatever is making you uncomfortable out loud, you actively move that thought from an unaware state to an aware state of mind. From there, you are more likely to make conscious decisions and act in a manner that better represents what you believe and value as well as who you want to be.
- Take a second. Since these moments tend to catch us off guard, it’s so easy to slip into the reactive state. When you feel that moment creeping up buy yourself one single second before you act. Grab a drink of water, run to the restroom, take a deep breath. Whatever needs to happen to give you that second to think before you act, make it happen and move yourself from a reaction to mindful action.
The next time you experience turmoil, think about the above and what can you do differently to yield a different outcome. Wouldn’t it be great to reflect back on a moment of turmoil and think, “wow, all I did was X differently”? Of course, the opportunity to thrive through those moments is always there… we just have to make the conscious choice to do it.
What will you choose?
