Keeping your head when everyone else is losing theirs isn't luck..it's a SKILL!
Keeping your cool, keeping it together when things are going sideways. You can learn this.
I have a funny story to share with you. A "few" years back... just four months into my new position at a new company and the morning of the day I was giving my first big presentation to the entire functional unit, this happened...
As I was running back and forth, loading my car and probably rushing my kids to get ready for daycare, a squirrel somehow managed to jump out of my mailbox and proceeded to run up the stairs, right into the bathroom where my daughter was brushing her teeth! To say it was an interesting morning is probably an understatement! What did I do? I ran upstairs, closed the bathroom door, and left a squirrel in my tub! I dropped my very excited kids off at daycare, headed to the office, and successfully delivered my presentation,which went off without a hitch. I think probably because I decided that what mattered most at that moment was how I showed up for that presentation. More important than worrying about the squirrel in my bathroom**.
What I didn't consciously realize then that I fully get now is that I was managing my "state"...how you, me, everyone, at any given time is "being" or showing up.
Your "state" is essentially:
Your thoughts.
Your physiology.
Your feelings.
at any given time.
Just so you know, we usually operate on autopilot, not even aware of how we are feeling, thinking, or moving. This is a good thing for the most part because you want to be able to do things and not constantly be thinking about them. However, when you get knocked off balance, it's useful to be able to pivot and get intentional.
There are always going to be things that knock you off your game, whether you're at home, work, or in the grocery store and maybe they won't be as exciting as a squirrel running into your house on the morning of a big presentation! Maybe you'll have an issue with your car or you get a text from someone who irritates you or something happens and all of a sudden you're not focusing on what really matters at the moment. You get thrown off your game.
How do you manage yourself, and your state when things get a little unexpectedly chaotic?
Are you ready?
Let's get to it...
Your challenge...
Like any new skill, it takes practice to show up with intention, to know how you want to be when others are losing their cool.
Here are some tips to get you started when it comes to managing yourself when sh*t hits the fan:
Imagine how you would like to show up.
Notice your thoughts.
If you're in a situation where you want to keep your head, what would be useful for you to keep in mind? Literally, for you to think about, maybe it's a role model you have who is good in a crisis.
Notice your feelings or emotions.
How would you like to feel? Perhaps it's focused or clear? Pick something that would be useful for you.
Check in with your physiology.
This is probably the most underrated secret weapon that you have. You can change both your thoughts and your feelings by changing your body. Not kidding. And...it can be as simple as changing how you're breathing. Seriously.
Once you decide how you'd like to show up...practice. How? By calling to mind real, lived experiences you've had when your thoughts, feelings, and physiology were aligned with how you want to show up. Practice each one individually and practice them one after another. Then try them out in real situations and see what changes in how you show up.
If you want help learning this skill Contact me I promise you, it will make a huge difference in how you show up.
Warmly,
Ann
Keeping your head when everyone else is losing theirs…is a SKILL!