The Essential Guide to Stack and Flow Through Uncertain Times

The week of March 9th was when the Coronavirus first became real for me and countless others.

On Tuesday, I found out that my speaking engagement that was scheduled for the following week had been canceled.

I was so fired up about this presentation too. I was going to present about the topic I’m passionate about, share the stage with legendary motivator Les Brown and others, and speak to a hundred people looking for tools and strategies to improve their lives.

I was going to use the platform to market the new launch of my coaching program. 

This was the culmination of a lot of work and would be the launch platform for my next coaching program and if successful, the source of my next 2-3 months of income.

It felt like the right thing, at the right time, in front of the right people. But now, because of something beyond my control, it’s not going to happen. 

For the first time in a while, I felt stressed and fearful about the future, and I know many others share these feelings too.

So, how do you deal with all that fear… the constant anxiety… the utter confusion… and the uncertainty of our day-to-day lives… whether it be because of this Coronavirus, a looming economic recession, or some other calamity that is bound to happen in our lifetime?

You choose:

1. Ignore it;
2. Accept it; or
3. Embrace it.

I’ve come to realize that the prevailing headlines out there set the bar too low.

“Just surviving” is not the mindset that sets us up for the best outcome.

“Just get through it” isn’t good enough because it’s all part of life, and life is now.

EMBRACE IT.

Now more than ever it’s time to:

• Stop doing what you “should” do and do what you want
• Trust your intuition, figure out what you really want out of this life, and get after it
• Live with vibrancy, vitality, and passion through the whole process 

I’ve gone full circle and landed back on a core belief —

Humans can best contribute when they understand their strengths and use them to serve others.

One of my strengths is helping people bridge the gap from where they are to where they want to be.

This is done by challenging the deepest assumptions… extracting the limiters… neutralizing the beliefs that prevent growth… and providing a new perspective and next steps to progress.

So, this guide is the summation of the models, practical tools, and tactics I’ve picked up from study, experimentation, and observation, to effectively help myself and others break through what’s holding them back, grow and flow smoothly through times of uncertainty.

It’s entirely personal and I hope it helps you as much as it has me.

"Research your own experience. Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, add what is specifically your own."

- Bruce Lee

First, I’d like to share with you my model for optimizing the present and the future.

Stack and Flow?

This model is my best real-time solution to the following questions:

• What do you need to do right now and over time to live out your vision in the future?
• What can you do to enjoy the present moment to the fullest, in a way that contributes to your future?
• How do you design your life in such a way that it converges these two seemingly opposing inputs?

Here is what stacking and flowing entails:

• Stacking is gaining experiences, skills, and development in the present that lead to compounding impact and fulfillment in the future.
• Flowing is being in the present with grace and joy.
• Stacking is knowing the future and planting seeds in the present.
• Flowing is not knowing the future and embracing everything in the present.

This is not a model of balance, but a model where balance is found in optimizing the extremes.

It’s like a pendulum, where one end is Stacking for the future and the other is Flowing in the present. You decide in real-time how to allocate your time, energy, and focus towards a full life.

During times of uncertainty like we’re experiencing right now and those times when external forces will leave you at a crossroads about your present and future path… keep stacking but flow more.

And… to learn to flow now… is to future-proof yourself against anything uncertain that comes your way, forever. 

With that said, here are…

9 Ways to Stack and Flow Through Uncertain Times:

1. Embrace uncertainty.

You’ve passed the phase of acceptance, and now you embrace it and everything that comes along with it.

You don't just believe that it's going to be okay. You fully embody it and have faith in the positive potentials that exist in the future. For example:

• Maybe what’s happening right now makes us better and more efficient as a collective in the long run. It could lead us to better healthcare systems. It could lead us to a better and more accessible education system as we learn how to educate remotely.
• Maybe companies and corporations lighten up on their policies and this is the catalyst that will allow people to better merge work and life, not separate it. I’m betting this is the kickoff to The Digital New Age of Working Remotely …
• Maybe this is something that brings humanity together and helps us appreciate what's really important — health, happiness, and the things we value most like family, friends, meaningful work, and contributing to the greater good.

Nobody is looking forward to pain and suffering, but when you can embrace and truly believe that you can not only survive, but also thrive now and in the future, you can show with more life and have more to offer every day.

2. Take on a leadership role.

This doesn’t have to be anything massive (it can be if you’re compelled). It can be something very simple among your family and friends.

Not just “okay.”

Be that real-life representation of the best you've got within yourself — resilience, vibrancy, and vitality. Double down on what makes you happy and fulfilled — and help others do this too.

Do what your intuition, values, and dreams tell you is right — not what your family, friends, the government or the news media tell you. 

3. Think in shorter timelines and spend more time in the present moment.

I’m a visionary and I’m all about long-term planning, big picture strategy, and 5-year goals.

But as the macro around you is in flux, you can gain certainty in the macro by consistently conquering the micro.

Example: Set 5-week goals and then break them down into five 5-day goals. 

Keep doing that and you'll likely achieve your 5-year goal in 2 or 3 years.

4. Spend more time working on your mind.

Spending more time on yourself may sound counterintuitive, but it will help you to show up more authentically and powerfully with everyone else.

Try to think less about what you need to do and more about how you want to be.

Tony Robbins recently put out a post saying that you’re in control of what you focus on, what it means to you, and what you do because of it.

I like this because once you're clear on how you want to be, you can let that guide you on what to do and how to do it.

5. Prioritize your health, fitness, and wellbeing.

We live in a time with so much external stimuli pulling us away from ourselves. It’s not about maintaining your health, fitness, and wellbeing. It’s about continuing to improve it.

Put more time and energy into it. Set new diet and fitness goals and carve out more time to work on achieving them. 

They don’t need to be big goals, just better. A lifelong friend of mine set a goal to become more flexible by doing 10 minutes of stretching twice a week – for him, that’s better than before, manageable, and he can build upon it.

Aim high but bite off less than you can chew, and you can achieve more than you can imagine – an idea I first heard from nutrition coach, Dr. John Berardi.

Let your physical progression be a consistent source of growth and certainty in your life. Feeling good in this domain carries over to every other part of your life as well.

6. Determine the fundamental aspects of your life.

Internalize what's important to you.

Nelson Mandela served 27 years in prison, often, with no bed, plumbing, and no clothes. Once he was released, he earned the Nobel Peace Prize and, at age 77, became President of South Africa. He established a strong central government based on majority rule and guaranteed both the rights of minorities and freedom of expression. His outlook on life can serve as an inspiration for us all when he said very simply, “I went on a long holiday for 27 years."

Spend time meditating on who you are, who you want to be, and who you can be right here right now. 

When you are clear on these things and live intentionally with personal alignment every day, you’ll have more impact, feel more fulfilled, and the world will have a harder time penetrating your force field.

7. Lean on your advisory team (and consider expanding it).

When it comes to your support team, don’t isolate yourself. Instead, increase the frequency of your communications. Not just with friends and family, but also focus on nurturing, supporting, and building your advisory team for other important aspects of your life like health, relationships, and business. 

Have people around you that know you, your values, and your dreams better than you do – people who can help you create a path, assist others, and help you express the best version of yourself while also holding you accountable for doing that.

8. Tell your story and share your ideas.

Whether you realize it or not, you have met people over the course of your life who look to you for support. 

You've been able to help others just by being you and doing what you do. And there's a lot of other people out there who need your natural skill set and unique perspective to help them through the things that are holding them back.

Share your story. Your ideas. Your message. You’ll be surprised at the number of people you help and the positive feedback you’ll get by doing so.

And if you're not clear on your mission or message yet, there’s no better time than now to start focusing on that.

9. Help others wherever and whenever you can.

Again, when it comes to the expression of ideas, this is the last place you want to isolate yourself from others. 

Now is the time to deploy your arsenal of experience to do the greatest good you can, while making it work for you too.

I hope this 9-step guide helps you stack and flow through uncertain times with more presence. More conviction. And more peace.

Through it all, just remember to:

Do what you want and what you can.

Get after it.

Live with vibrancy, vitality, and passion. 

And, of course, be easy on yourself.

"Trust the wait. Embrace the uncertainty. Enjoy the beauty of becoming. When nothing is certain, anything is possible." -Mandy Hale

?“Disclaimer”

I love science; however, this is not a science article. I love health and fitness, but this is not a guide about that. I love business, but this is not business advice 101. It’s not comprehensive, but I hope it helps.

Disclaimer

The information in this guide is not clinical or legal advice. Matt James Hersh will not accept liability for any loss, damage or inconvenience arising as a consequence of any use of or the inability to use any of this information. Matt James Hersh is not responsible for claims brought by third parties arising from your use of this information.