How to Navigate Uncertain Times
I sat down to write this post and several pages in, after at least six attempts, I turned to my husband and said, “I have a lot of decent sentences here but they are sort of bouncing off of each other like they’re at a rave,” and we laughed. So clearly, I’m a very serious expert. Hear me out though, this is actually my point about how to handle times like these.
Be you.
These two simple words carry a lot of weight. Who are you deep down in your soul? I’m not asking who the world told you to be or who you think you should be. I’m asking who are you at your very essence?
Are you generous, ambitious, compassionate, funny, kind, quirky, creative, athletic, empathetic, or any number of other qualities? Really think about this. Whatever your personal answer, it will be unique to you and you alone. No matter what arises within you, I am sure of this - you are a full, complete, wonderful human. You will be so no matter where you live, what job you have, what you accomplish, or what you don’t.
The way to be yourself in uncertain times, or any time really, is to fully embrace who you are at your core and to celebrate your own unique gifts. It is easy to lose sight of yourself in the wake of retooling every aspect of your daily life. Coming back to who you truly are can help you use your unique gifts to navigate uncharted waters. It gives you full access to all of the strength you already possess, and it helps you to care for yourself in the process. It gives you the stamina you need to try and try again as you figure things out and to not lose sight of what is really important to you. Peel away the layers of expectations, demands, obligations, and all of the “shoulds” you carry. Make choices that work for you and kindly turn down those that just don’t. What could you do to celebrate simply being yourself?
So, who am I? I’m funny, quirky, kind, creative, passionate, optimistic, powerful, empathetic, and adventuresome. I find ways to embrace and celebrate this in myself even now in unexpected ways. One of my favorite things to do these days is drive to a local orchard and farm store. It’s an odd choice, maybe, but here’s why. Once a week after I put in my order for curbside pick-up of produce, I hop in my car with my daughter and we ride about 20 minutes out into the country chatting and joking all the way. We take different routes so that we can explore an area that we wouldn’t otherwise visit in our daily lives. We get out of the house, come into direct contact with absolutely no one else, support a local business, and have a fun adventure. It is what we can do right now and it’s simple, as are all of the best things in life.
Find the simple, find the joy, and find what works for you.
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