I had a bad week.

Two weeks ago I had a WEEK. You know the ones, where there is at least one really bad day in there, and it just seems like everything is harder than it should be. I firmly acknowledge both my privilege that my problems are truly blips in the scheme of life, and I also recognise that we all have hard weeks.

My feelings came as a result of a bunch of things converging all at once. I am learning about digital course products and there is JUST SO MUCH that I don’t know. I want things to move faster than is humanly possible and I was frustrated. And there was some stirring up of personal emotions (that pesky old grief that pops up when you really don’t need it!).

Initially I felt very ‘woe is me’. I thought probably no-one would understand what I was going through. I thought probably I should give up, it was all too hard. I was even feeling it in my body. I could feel my old friend the migraine hovering and I noticed my shoulders tightening.

I had to remind myself of all the things I know to be true about navigating emotions, and I thought it might help to write some of them down – because it might just be that I am not the only person in the world to have a bad week.

?? Firstly it helps to normalise things. I am not the only person in the world having a bad week. People in business have bad weeks. People in employment have bad weeks. People out of employment have bad weeks. The bad weeks make it possible to be more appreciative of the good weeks.

?? These bad weeks can knock my confidence. But that is ok. I don’t need to feel confident to get on with things, I just need to remember that I can take action anyway. I like approaches that centre courage over confidence so I try to be brave and show up, even when I am doubting myself. (To read more about this approach to confidence you could read about ACT approached – I like the book ‘The Happiness Trap’ by Dr Russ Harris).

?? The feelings are not facts. Just because I feel anxious, like I am making no progress or that everything in the universe is conspiring against me does not make any of those things a fact, no matter how strongly I am experiencing them. (To read more about this, I recommend ‘Emotional Agility’ by Susan David).

?? It is a reminder that stepping outside my comfort zone is…uncomfortable. I like to think that I have expanded my comfort zone, but I am trying more new things and it is hard. Of course!

?? On that note, one of the best ways to prepare for a transition is to get comfortable stretching our comfort zone. What are small ways we can test ourselves every week? For me at the moment it is showing up on video on LinkedIn. Holy discomfort Batman!

?? A little bit of deeper reflection is also helpful after we have these tough weeks/days/months. I can see an interesting pattern that emerges for me where not being in control, or fully knowing what I am doing can trigger some strong emotional reactions.

Hopefully some of these ideas can help, when you or someone in your team hit some rough patches during a significant transition.

If you are interested in how our coaches and I can help, I’d be happy to have an (obligation free!) chat.?Book a call here, or send me an?email.

Have a GREAT week,

Ellie