Navigating Challenging Times

Everything is  just fine most of the time, and so are we. That's why so few challenge the status quo. Human beings like to know what's expected and where they stand.

And then...

Things get topsy turvy, turned upside down, or go sideways, and the status quo is no longer the status quo. As creatures who find comfort in "another one of those," this can create uncertainty and anxiety.

Here's a four-step process that can help you navigate challenging times.

Acknowledge - State what is going on now as plainly as possible. Avoid language that includes value judgments and strong emotive language.
Affiliate - Find the others. Who are the 3 - 6 people you already know that you can convene to assess the situation? Work together to make things better?

Aim - Decide the destination and intention of where you want to get. What does that look like? How will you feel when you get there?

Act - Having assessed the situation, gathered the right people, set a goal, take a deliberate step into possibility every day.

When you decatastrophize a situation and convened a small group to set a small goal and take a small step toward it every day, something special happens. In what was once overwhelming, you now see opportunity, and what once caused anxiety now cultivates excitement.

What challenge are you facing today? How can you acknowledge it objectively? Whom can you ask to affiliate? What's your aim? When do you act?

Do the work with and for each other with intention and integrity. Whether you hit your target or not, the effort will be worth it and reveal even more possibilities for what's next.

Let's keep flying higher together!

Scott Perry - Difference Maker at Creative on Purpose.

Download the Creative on Purpose Handbook, and let's go!

If these are ideas you can get behind, please share this with others!