Stuck In A RUT?
James Owens, CDS
SAFETY, Personal Growth/Development, Leadership, CDL & FMCSA Compliance, Employee Wellness, Natural Gas, OSHA Compliance & Facilitation! Creating discussions for awareness in 8 areas. No niche here, just trying to help!
We all know life is full of ups and downs, yet we keep on going.? Sometimes it is harder than others, and there may be periods of our life where we feel like we are in a RUT.? If you don’t know what a RUT is, we have all been in a RUT at some point or another.? What is a RUT?? If you are a hunter, you may have a different definition, however many know it to be a long deep track made by something heavy.? Wait, not your definition?? Maybe it is a pattern of actions or behaviors that may seem dull or unproductive but is difficult to change.? Both of those definitions are referring to an actual physical instance.? This means they are not an action or a verb, but a noun.? Which RUT do you relate to?? What happens when we get in a RUT and what can we do to get out of a RUT?? Let that question sink in and see if we can make a track for us to follow:
Recognize??????????????????????
Recognize that just because you are in a RUT, it does not mean that you will stay in it forever.? When a tire leaves a RUT, it is typically because everything around it is soft and the weight of it sinks down around it until the soil stabilizes and allows the tire to roll out of it.? It is no different in our lives.? When the weight of what is going on around us pushes us down into the softer soil, we may feel like everything is caving in around us, but when the soil (life situations) stabilize, we are able to roll out of it.? Sometimes we have to stabilize the soil around us (put in the work and find things to help strengthen the soil) and that may mean we stay in the RUT for a moment, but the quicker we stabilize the soil, we are able to get out of it. Are you able to recognize if you are in a RUT?
Understand???????????????????
Understand that this is a period, but not the point.? When we are in a RUT, we may feel lower than the situation around us because of the “weight” of it.? Often we have to wait until things around us change, but we can’t wait on that. We have to understand that it is up to us to change too in order to shorten the time in the RUT.? Remember, a RUT typically only has a forward and backward path.? We have to choose to move forward to what is ahead, not look back at what is behind us.? A RUT also typically allows for us to stay upright and not fall to the side.? Sure we may slide, but if we keep our chin up, we will be able to keep moving forward.? The forward momentum gets us closer to getting out of the RUT than we think.? What can you do to gain momentum??
Trust??????????????????????????????????
Trust yourself!! This may be hard to do, however we have to learn from our decisions and actions that contributed to the RUT we are or were in.? We can’t place blame on the circumstances, but we can only blame ourselves if we do not learn from them.? The quicker we identify what circumstances impacted our situation, the quicker we can get out of them. It typically is not automatic, but if you don’t try to keep moving forward, you will automatically be in the RUT longer than you need to be.? Focus on your strengths and trust yourself to stay upright and moving forward.? The soil (circumstances/life situation) will stabilize, and you will be able to get out of the RUT you are in.? Trust yourself and trust your skills and abilities to adapt and improve.? Yes, you can!? Do you trust yourself?
领英推荐
While you are reading this, hopefully you are not having a RUTten day.? Regardless of how your day is going, we all have to understand that we control our thoughts that lead to our behaviors.? Stinking thinking leads to stinking results.? Keep moving forward, because no RUT lasts forever.? Eventually, you will work your way out of it, but the quicker you recognize you are in a RUT the quicker you can take actions to get out of it.? Understand that you are in control of your thoughts and actions, and you have to trust yourself to accomplish your goals and succeed.? We all get in a RUT from time to time.? It probably isn’t a physical deep track made by wheels, but it probably is a pattern of behavior that has become dull and unproductive.? Take some time to refresh yourself and refocus on what is important to you.? Then, develop a plan and take action.? Thomas Edison was quoted as saying, “When you’ve exhausted all the possibilities, remember this:? You haven’t.”? Don’t question why you are in a RUT, question yourself to find out what it takes to get out.?
R-Recognize the rut
U-Understand it is a period
T-Trust yourself
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Stay safe and stay well!
Seeking a safety position In Columbus, Ohio area.
1 年I was talking to someone this morning , our topic was being suck in a RUT. Please don't get me wrong, I live a very blessed life today. In 2015 while on the road I had a failed suicide attempt, I had placed a loaded gun in my mouth and pulled the trigger. In 2016, I sold my equipment to get a job locally, took two safety positions that I was really unqualified for, and failed. In 2018 I walked away from a safety position, one day after a DOT inspection for the carrier I worked for, I have no regrets, I would do it again if I was in the same position. IN 2018, I fell at work 11' and landed on my head, I haven't worked since, I am not doing anything productive, I feel useless. Because of my failed safety positions, I educated myself while on workman's compensation, I took transportation management courses that I found, I attended NATMI courses after being told that no one would ever hire me, I had spent thousands of dollars. I also took OSHA Safety courses. All proved to be a waste of money. I have volunteered my time instructing others is load securement, and did mock DOT audits with other safety professionals to learn proper techniques. I volunteered observing construction safety professionals. I live a blessed life.