Wherever you are right now is OK. Let me repeat that. Wherever you are right now is OK.
“As our world is being rearranged, as the old ways are crumbing, it’s wildly important to be exceedingly kind to yourself. To repeat, again and again, the two magic words: “It’s okay.”
~ Pam Grout
When things are hard you may find yourself...
...laughing in one moment and crying in the next.
...eating in general healthy, but then ravage the chocolate box a minute later.
...loving the silence (or commotion) in your house one moment and then wanting to scream because of the emptiness (or overwhelm) in the next.
It's okay. Please stop the judgment, the ‘I should’ or ‘I shouldn’t’ and the constant need to be strong. You'll find your way back to JOY with a bit of awareness and focus.
Watching our clients - many are CEOs of large corporations - navigate challenging times is tremendously inspiring. Their scope of responsibility spans across thousands of employees, multiple countries and cultures, and diverse challenges on a daily basis. I’m in awe of their leadership and we, at JOYVIAL are grateful to support them and their teams.
Observing these incredible business leaders but also the approach our JOYVIAL health coaches and I are taking, I’m seeing a theme that seems to keep us sane and level-headed. That theme is awareness and focus.
Taking Control of Your Emotions Starts with Awareness
Brene Brown, renowned author and speaker recent talked on her podcast “Unlocking Us”
about our belief that we need to rank our suffering. We tend to rationalize that our challenges aren’t as bad as other people’s and therefore we should disregard our own suffering.
There is a notion that empathy is finite and there isn’t enough empathy for others and ourselves. But there is enough to go around. Honor yourself and acknowledge the awareness that you are in fact suffering and that you want to feel better.
Put yourself into an observer role
Awareness implies that you put yourself into an observer role of your own life - your thoughts, your emotions, your actions, and your habits. Being the observer of what’s happening within you allows you to make the conscious decisions about how to proceed. If I’m sad, do I want to feel that sadness right in that moment? Do I want to assess what’s at the core of my sadness? Do I want to change my focus to something else? All these decisions can only happen when you bring awareness to your every thought and action.
Focus on What’s Important to YOU
One of our clients, a CEO of a global company with 2,500 employees, said to me “If it’s anything I have learned, it is that when our work is grounded in caring for others it is so meaningful.” Did you catch that? She has a clear focus on how to run her company, a focus to care for others. What is your focus?
4 Key Ways to Help You Stay Focused
Remain mindful of how you want to show up each day. That’s a daily question in the morning. “What’s the best version of me today?” On some days that vision is more ambitious than on others.
Maintain a routine of habits that nourish your soul. For me that’s 7-8 hours of sleep, meditation, some form of movement, nourishing meals, and connecting with God.
Choose your perspective in every situation. Remind yourself of your intention to see the world like a glass half-full (and not half empty). That means focusing on the good in every situation.
Connect with the people you love, people that uplift you and love you back.
What are the things you want to focus on in the coming months? We are here to help! Click the 'Contact' button in the top right corner or simply send us an email to info@joyvial.com to schedule your free discovery session.