TO ENACT CHANGE WE MUST ‘SHOW UP’

Show up – vote – do your part to make the change the world needs

I really struggled this weekend. I struggled to find an answer to the violence we see all too often. I struggled to reconcile that my fellow voting citizens somehow put a thoughtless, apathetic, blowhard in the White House. I struggled to find any silver lining in the senseless behavior of rioters and law enforcement. It already feels like the world is on fire and then, we had looting and riots over the weekend (much like too many other cities) culminating in the DC Mayor setting a curfew for last night and deploying the National Guard.

I always try to stay on the sunny side but short of myopically focusing only on my personal bubble, I struggled to figure out how I can enact any sort of meaningful change to make the world better. In my frustration and reading, I came across this quote:

“The world is run by those who show up, not those who wait to be asked.”

– Steve Blank

We HAVE to show up to make a change. We have to show up at the voting booth, show up in the community, show up in peaceful protests. Show up through (self) education. Show up by demanding better from elected officials. We have to show up for the marginalized. We. Have. To. Show. Up.

In my attempt to chart a way forward, I found this quote especially strong – a way to perhaps wash away my mental exhaustion at the start of a new week, new month and to start the second half of 2020. I hope you can show up in your own life and I hope you’re safe. 

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COVID COPING – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HOW

I’ve been thinking a lot about what comes next and how that will shape all of us.

We have been wildly disrupted by COVID-19. There is not one area of our lives untouched by this global pandemic. We are locked down, in quarantine, or self-isolating. We are working in new ways, socializing across video platforms, homeschooling to the best of our ability, and trying to find our balance.

You didn’t ask for a pandemic.

Or to lose your job.

Or to suddenly teach 7th grade math.

But here it is. Now comes the real work.

That work isn’t about the WHAT it’s about the HOW.

The WHAT is this new way of living, the uncertainty of when things will return to normal or if they ever will return to normal. The WHAT is the situation that is forced upon you. But here comes the fun part – this is the time when you decide HOW you will react.

The HOW is your view your situation. Will you crumple into a ball and lay on your floor until the sun comes out? Will you beat your chest and scream to the skies about the unfairness of it all? The HOW is the mindset you have. Do you take comfort in the fact that (hopefully) your family is healthy? Will you use this time to take stock of what really matters?

We didn’t ask for any of this but here we are. Amor fati, as the Stoics would tell you.

When you accept your fate – when you lean into this situation – you realize that you have to make the best of the situation. I think of my grandparents who lived through the Depression and through World War II. They made the best of it. They knew there was no other option.  We are in the same situation today – there is no other option than to accept our fate and move forward. You can’t control what happens to you, but you sure can control how you react.

A few ideas to help include:

  • Practice mental toughness – Don’t succumb to victim mentality. Dig deep and find your toughness.
  • Study philosophy – We are not going through anything that humanity hasn’t experienced before. Study the philosophers for some perspective.
  • Choose the optimistic path – Keep on the sunny side. There is plenty of scientific evidence on the positives effects of optimism on both mental and physical well-being.
  • Turn off the news – Take a break from the whiplash of good news/bad news and the swirl of rumor on social media. It is a slippery slope and can lead to (mis)information overload.
  • Realize that things can always get worse – It may sound bleak, but let’s look to the Stoics again and consider memento mori. Even in the worst situations, it is important to recognize that things can get worse, so we should…….
  • Keep focus on the good things in your life – Find a bright spot in every day. It may be that you have a job, or your flower garden is in full bloom, or you connected with a long-lost friend, or your child woke you up with giggles. There is always something beautiful in every day, you just have to look for it.

The world we knew will likely never be the same.

But I think there is opportunity there to transform it into something better. The things we thought we needed may become obsolete. The kindness we are seeing around the globe may (hopefully) become habit and remain long after COVID-19 becomes a manageable situation. The care we take of ourselves and those around us may result in more empathy.

The murky waters of confusion, isolation, and uncertainty will eventually clear. How will you embrace the new?

Me? I hope I embrace more opportunities to exercise my empathy in a meaningful way for others.

Remember to stay home, be kind, and look to the future.

If you are ready to get started with Clarity Coaching  Collective, let us know and thanks for stopping by!

A COFFEE BREAK TO EXPRESS MY THANKS

This week has been hectic. Business travel and lots of last minute projects (all due today) make for a tiring schedule. All of that points to the need for more coffee! Before I refill my cup, let me express my sincere thanks for your visit to Clarity Coaching Collective!

Knowing that you made a choice to click a link or subscribe to my blog feed thoroughly humbles and delights me leaving me with a big grin on my face.

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Aren’t they cute? Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!