The journey is going to be worth it

Welcome back to the LIFT Your Impact newsletter, where you can learn how to achieve your goals by LIFTing others. Here you will gain insights and top tips on leadership, communication, and storytelling. I also provide daily video tips on Instagram here!

My team at Body Talk delivers powerful, proven training on the science of communication, and we offer a wide range of virtual training options . Or click here if you would like to book me for a speaking engagement (virtual or in person).?

Last summer I took a trip to Canada with my two children. After a sleepless overnight flight home, we finally arrived, groggily made our way to the baggage claim, and as we waited and waited, all of the suitcases arrived except for mine.?

Inside, I thought, I am exhausted, frustrated, and panicked. My mind immediately went to all of the things inside the suitcase that I needed, and I frantically ran through what I would do without it. It would’ve been easy to lose my composure.

But then I looked at my two children—watching me, taking in my responses. I thought, when they face a challenging event in the future, they’re going to take their cues from me. If I yell and get frustrated, they’re going to think that’s an appropriate response.?

I don’t want that for their future. So I calmly sat down with them, explained that sometimes this happens, and walked them through the tedious process of how to report missing baggage.?

As we left the airport, one suitcase short, my son said, “Thank you, Daddy, for responding in that way. I’m really proud of you.”

This situation created a memory for him when he could think, “I want to do this in my future.”

This is an example of reverse hindsight.?

When I’ve gone through difficult times, I’ve been lucky enough to have people in my life who have said, “At some point in the future, you’re going to look back at this moment, and you’re going to tell the story of how you overcame it.”?

It’s much like going to the gym. I never think, “You know what I want to do right now? Exercise!” I don't go to the gym because I’m excited about lifting weights. I go because I’m thinking of the future. I know that at some point, I’m going to need to be physically strong, and I’ll be grateful that I’ve maintained my exercise routines. Not to mention that exercise keeps us happy and healthy.?

If I get up each day and build muscles, I know I’m going to have the strength that I need in the future. It might be hard right now, but this is part of a journey that’s going to build you bigger and stronger.

The same goes for challenging times. Each moment can be an opportunity to build mental and emotional strength. You can look back at this time and think: this has made me stronger.?

At Body Talk, we went through some major challenges during the pandemic, but when I look at where we are now, I can see that it took a period of stress and strain to create the much stronger, more connected, more positive unit that we are today, and I am proud of how we navigated our most challenging times.?

Reverse hindsight gives us an opportunity to say, “I know that this is hard, and it’s hard for a reason. The journey is going to be worth it.”

How do you need to move through your current challenges to make your future self (and those around you) proud??

Thank you for joining me for another LIFT Your Impact newsletter.?

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