"Try and be your better self" - Futurist Jim Carroll
As they say, Monday's are for motivation.
For many, these are not easy days. It's OK not to be ok.
How do you handle a world of massive change, volatility and disappointment?
It takes work, effort, self-reflection, and working through a process. Through the weekend, I put together a little Website with my thoughts - it's at https://coping.jimcarroll.com
You might want to visit the site to explore a voyage of how to cope - or read below.
#1 Try and be your better self. At the end of the day, you want to look at yourself in the mirror with pride as to how you've handled yourself.
#2 Set your expectations. Drastic change with unrealistic promises is a long-term voyage. All of this is going to take some time to unfold. Buckle in and buckle upset, and accept the fate of time.
#3 Ride your roller coaster. Your emotions are going to be all over the map. Come to expect that - and don't fight it. You've got to go through grief, anger, bewilderment, confusion, and more. Accept it as a part of the journey you did not want.
#4 Don’t give in to negativity. It will get worse before it gets better. That's reality. But work really hard to not let that change who you are, what you believe, and what you will do.
#5 Find your purpose. A voyage of unwanted change is never easy. Navigating through it involving allowing your mindset to find a new path. Doing that requires that you find a new purpose that will keep you motivated, engaged - and optimistic.
#6 Chase the good days. The negativity will be relentless. Do everything you can to battle the negativity with positivity, by focusing on doing what you can to make sure there are more good days than bad days.
#7 Abandon loneliness. This should not be a solo voyage. You need people who will join you in your voyage - you can't do this on your own.
#8 Build a bigger circle. It might be time to expand your horizons - you need a peer group and support group that can help you in your mission of learning how to cope.
#9 Double down on empathy. Now is not the time to treat others with the disdain, anger and hate that others might show them. People need to see the better selves of others - be that person.
#10 Exercise your optimism. Take on a role of being a relentless optimist. When too many people are falling into a trap of negativity, they need the help and guidance of those who can give them hope.
#11 Focus on ‘good’ relationships. Abandon toxicity. Difficult moments means you need to cut back or cut out the ones that hurt, that cause you pain, or simply drag you down. Recognize that you don't need them anymore, as hard as it might be.
#12 Be true to your integrity. The next few years are going to see a feeding frenzy of collapsed ethics, hazy moral boundaries, and a collapse of basic decency. Strengthen your values for what's ahead.
#13 Adjust your strategy. There's a very complicated voyage ahead. Don't presume that what works at this moment is what will work tomorrow. Be prepared to change course as circumstances warrant, so that you end up at the right destination.
#14 Study opportunities. You need to have faith that there will be a better future, that all is not lost, and that there is yet hope. To do that, make sure to spot the opportunities amid the wreckage.
#15 Pay attention to self-care. One of your most important priorities is to make sure that you in a good state of mental health - that you can cope with all the complexities this new world is going to throw at you. It won't be easy, but is critically necessary.
#16 Mute your anger. Anger is palpable with a lot of people, and there is good reason for it. But a future driven by anger is not much of a future at all. It's best to try to leave it aside.
#17 Silently scream (if you need to). You'll need an outlet for that anger - it can't be completely hidden, suppressed and ignored. Find a way to let go without damaging yourself or others around you.
#18 Admit when it’s not ok. There will be bad moments. Awful moments. Moments of crushing despair. It's critical that you not try to hide your reality.
#19 Know what to do when it’s not. Have a plan - a support group, peers, friends, networking groups, and professional support when necessary. You can't do this journey on your own - know that for many people, 'we're all in this together.'
#20 Ask for help (if you need it). When things get too much to bear and you feel you are at the end of the proverbial rope, don't hesitate to ask someone for help. Anyone.
#21 Change your focus. Learn new stuff. Do new things. Take on new projects. Study new knowledge. Try a new skill. Take up an old hobby.Just do things.
#22 Build some ‘joy habits.' Take some time to discover what works for you.
#23 Don’t give up. Difficult times demand perseverance - with attitude, action and mindset. Stay focused on what you can do - and don't obsess over what you can't.
#24 Double down on action. It's better to be busy and in a busy headspace, than to be a headspace where all you can do is focus on the negativity around you.
#25 Believe in tomorrow. Some folks have a saying that gets them through their day today - "Tomorrow, the sun will rise in splendour." As tough as today might be, always believe there can be a better tomorrow.
For a brief moment last week, Futurist Jim Carroll decided to put his Daily Inspiration series on pause. Lots of people advised him not to do that, telling him that the posts work for them. With that, he’s doubling down on his optimism in the face of long odds with an era of massive, unpredictable volatility.