Embrace the power of change - Target your situation by accepting it and focusing on the things you can control. Make it happen!
I chose to write this article with the intent of encouraging you that stress comes with leadership but so does overcoming it. While we all react to stressful events in different ways, many of us try to protect ourselves by refusing to accept the truth of what’s happening. After all, by denying that you’re even experiencing stress, you fool yourself that you still have some sense of control over what are usually uncontrollable moments.
While denial is a normal function it can give you an opportunity to come to terms with the shock of a traumatic event. Staying in denial will prevent you from adapting to your new circumstances, stop you from seeking solutions or taking action, and stifle the healing process. Let me share with you what I have learned to do with my stressful moments.
Accept the situation. Change is an inevitable part of life and many aspects are outside your control. While it can be tough to acknowledge, railing against events or circumstances outside your control will only drain you of energy and leave you feeling anxious and hopeless. Accepting your situation, on the other hand, can free you up to devote your energy to the things that you do have control over.
Focus on things within your control. Make a list of all the things you can’t control and give yourself permission to stop worrying about them. Instead, focus on the action that you can take. Take command of your life.
Accept change by looking to your past. Looking back at examples where you’ve coped with uncertainty and change before can help you accept your current situation. Examining your past successes can also help you see past the current crisis and derive some confidence that you’ll be able to pull through again.
Accept your feelings. It’s tempting to believe that the best way to get through hard times is by ignoring painful emotions and “putting on a game face”. But unpleasant emotions exist whether you choose to acknowledge them or not. Trying to prevent your emotions from surfacing will only fuel your stress. By allowing yourself to feel your emotions, you’ll find that even the most intense, upsetting feelings will pass, the trauma of these tough times will start to fade, and you’ll be able to find a path forward.
Grieve your losses. Undergoing tough times usually involves some kind of loss. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the loss of your old life, it’s important you allow yourself the opportunity to grieve. Only by facing your grief, acknowledging and mourning your losses will you be able to heal and eventually move on with your life. You know the cost of your loss so grieve.
Celebrate your victories. Becoming your biggest fan and your biggest cheerleader will help you in the most stressful times. Whether the victory is big or small, celebrate you! It is absolutely ok to treat yourself to dinner, go on a shopping me, buy a new book, take a victory vacation. Victories are not always easy and should be celebrated by you. Never celebrate anyone more than you celebrate yourself.
In closing, the bible gives this encouragement in 2 Corinthians 4:810 (NIV) “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” In other words, leadership is hard, but YOU CAN MAKE IT.
Be Lifted and Be Blessed.
