Top tips for finding your own silver lining in a global crisis

Top tips for finding your own silver lining in a global crisis

Let’s be honest, 2020 has been tough for many of us. Whether its health, job, money, relationship, family or the more general issue of having to get used to living this new way that we haven’t chosen, its clear to say that this year has not been the one that was anticipated. However it doesn’t have to be all negative, as in the midst of a crisis there is always an opportunity for growth. We may have to look a little deeper for it, it may be personal or business, but in the dark of a global pandemic there are many ways in which individuals and businesses can get ahead and turn a negative into a positive.

Mark Wilkinson, The Health and Happiness Coach, shares his top tips for finding the silver lining in a global crisis.

• Be your own security

If this pandemic has shown us anything, it’s that no industry or job is as safe and secure as we like to think. As humans we often rely heavily on things outside of us for security. Whether it be your relationships or your job, security cannot be found in anything that could be taken in a moment.

Right now, is the best time everyone to find their own security in the only place it exists, within ourselves. Use this time to get to know yourself and understand what you would truly like to be achieving in life, take a step back and look at what you perceive to be your security. What does it look like? Could it be taken away? The answer is likely to be yes. When would now be the best time to find the security in what you would like to be, do and have, who you are and where you are going to take yourself in this wonderful life.

• Create multiple sources of income

For many industries this crisis has spelt disaster for jobs, career paths and growth plans. And for the majority of people in the UK relying on one job to pay for their lifestyle is the absolute norm, but in times of crisis this may not always be the safest option. Some individuals will have seen their incomes plummet as the pandemic hit and unfortunately for those in some of the industry’s worst hit, the future is still very uncertain. However as my business coach and mentor Kevin Green says the word job stands for ‘just over broke’, as that’s where it will keep you!

This is why it is essential for everyone to think about multiple sources of income in order to create their own economy, once you have done this you will be able to navigate any future crisis with ease. Whether it’s a hobby that you turn into a business, or you use this time as an opportunity to retrain in something you’ve always loved and wanted to do as a side hustle, or even invest in assets that will bring you reliable revenue each month, now is the time to take hold of the reins and future proof your own earning potential.

• Find your purpose

Easier said than done, right? Maybe, however if this time out from the real world has taught us anything it should be to sit back and take stock of what we have achieved and what we would like to do with our lives to truly fulfil our life purpose. As human beings we are faced every day with our own goals, desires, hopes and dreams but do we all really know what we want our purpose to be? For some it may be to bring joy, for others it may be to educate, the best bit is you get to decide, and once you do you will be able to map out your own journey with more happiness and intent.

• Put your health at the forefront

According to a 2018 study by The Mental Health Foundation up to 74% of people had felt so stressed they were overwhelmed or unable to cope in the previous year, so we can only imagine the stress levels in the UK following the events of 2020. Many of us forget to put ourselves first and we allow ourselves to push our own health and wellbeing to the back of our minds to try and please others. This is not good for mental health and cannot continue. 

In order to live a happy and successful life, we must as individuals take the time to put our own health at the forefront of our minds and address the issues that may be causing us any underlying health complaints. Whether it’s our relationships, our jobs or financial worries we must take the time to understand our mind and body connection and learn to embrace the fact that being happy in the moment is the only thing we really have, it’s a gift which is why its’ called ‘the present’, also get comfortable with dissatisfaction, it’s a creative state, being dissatisfied with something in your life can be good as it is often the biggest driving force for change.

Health is wealth, good health is priceless, and it is up to us to keep a focus on putting our mental and physical health at the forefront of all that we do.

• Calm down, speed up

It is time for us all to calm down and captain our own ship. Often it is the calm in the most aggressive storms that allow us to take stock and then speed up the areas and aspects of our lives that are successful, make us happy, drive our purpose and help us get the most from life. The calmer we are the more effective we are, trust me, This pandemic is an opportunity for many of us to take a step back, calm down from the haste of day to day life and reassess where we were going, what we would like to be doing and how to go about changing the things in our life that are no longer contributing to out happiness. 

It is this ‘stepping out of your head’ moments, quietening our minds, that is essential for us as human beings in order to realign our needs and detach from the negativity that many people carry around with them. And this isn’t something that we should be doing once in a blue moon when we are hit by a crisis. The ability to take a moment, calm down and re-navigate our lives is something we could all be doing on a daily basis.

Mark Wilkinson, The Health and Happiness Coach, reveals more of his tips for how to overcome challenges through a series of proven solutions to make positive changes in his debut book, ‘Life Remixed’. The book, which launches in Feb 2021, focuses on inspiring strategies to help others lead a happier and more fulfilled life.